A hairdryer. An oscillating fan. Basically any low, humming kind of sound that most people would call noise. Possibly considered a distraction preventing others from focusing or sleeping or whatever, a sound like waves rushing over an empty seashore brings to me an unexplainable rush of soothing, peaceful calmness that few could understand or even tolerate.
The low frequency drone wraps me in an assuring warmth that holds me as if to say, “I’ve got you. Nothing else can get in right now. The world will wait until this perfect state passes.” I tingle as satisfactory goose-bumps shiver up, then back down my body.
The feeling that all is on hold, at least for a while. The feeling that incredible knowledge and wisdom lie in store for me to happen upon them as I tune out my surroundings and tune in to the audible drug that has taken me captive…the sound of white noise.
White noise is defined as a “low-volume electrical or radio noise of equal intensity over a wide range of frequencies.” White noise is similar to white light. Although the color white appears to be colorless, it’s actually the presence of all colors. White results from all the colors of the spectrum being reflected back to us, whereas black absorbs all the colors, resulting in no colors being reflected.
White noise makes me comfortable. I don’t like things that go bump in the night. I don’t like dogs barking. I don’t like silence. White noise absorbs all these sounds and helps me create my own personal oasis.
As you read this you might ask what in the world I’m talking about. A few of you may think I’m crazy but a few of you may actually understand and agree. I think, however, that most if not all will agree that sometimes the white noise concept applies to our spiritual lives.
We absorb ourselves in us. Whether it be our jobs, our kids, our hobbies or even our laziness. We create our own personal white noise. We have our strongholds that no one can break through. We won’t let them. We’re in our zone. They’re not welcome and neither is God.
We hear Him calling and we retreat to our little fortress. We drown Him out with the drone of our lives so that it’s more comfortable…more rational, and even if it’s not, that’s still the place where we can get away and figure it all out. All we need is a few minutes of “me” time. God is welcome to direct our lives, but not now. Not here. This is our comfortable little white noise zone. We let so many things in that we can’t distinguish between any of them, including our Heavenly Father.
He created us for a purpose…His purpose. The best way to find out the purpose of anything is to ask the one who made it, but we pretend as if we have it all under control and even if we don’t, just a little while in the zone and we’ll be fine.
The Bible describes God as a still, small voice. I think sometimes we tell ourselves that if God really wants our attention He’ll let us know in some over-the-top, obvious way. We wait for thunder and lightning. We wait for a bright star to point us in the right direction. We never think, or never choose, to turn down the white noise… the distractions in our lives, so we can hear Him more clearly.
Ephesians 2:10 tells us we are created to do good works that He has prepared in advance for us to do…not because He needs us, but because He wants us to want Him.
Let’s make it a point in the approaching new year to turn down our volume a little bit so we can better hear His instructions for our lives. Who knows what we may be missing and never even know it?
The low frequency drone wraps me in an assuring warmth that holds me as if to say, “I’ve got you. Nothing else can get in right now. The world will wait until this perfect state passes.” I tingle as satisfactory goose-bumps shiver up, then back down my body.
The feeling that all is on hold, at least for a while. The feeling that incredible knowledge and wisdom lie in store for me to happen upon them as I tune out my surroundings and tune in to the audible drug that has taken me captive…the sound of white noise.
White noise is defined as a “low-volume electrical or radio noise of equal intensity over a wide range of frequencies.” White noise is similar to white light. Although the color white appears to be colorless, it’s actually the presence of all colors. White results from all the colors of the spectrum being reflected back to us, whereas black absorbs all the colors, resulting in no colors being reflected.
White noise makes me comfortable. I don’t like things that go bump in the night. I don’t like dogs barking. I don’t like silence. White noise absorbs all these sounds and helps me create my own personal oasis.
As you read this you might ask what in the world I’m talking about. A few of you may think I’m crazy but a few of you may actually understand and agree. I think, however, that most if not all will agree that sometimes the white noise concept applies to our spiritual lives.
We absorb ourselves in us. Whether it be our jobs, our kids, our hobbies or even our laziness. We create our own personal white noise. We have our strongholds that no one can break through. We won’t let them. We’re in our zone. They’re not welcome and neither is God.
We hear Him calling and we retreat to our little fortress. We drown Him out with the drone of our lives so that it’s more comfortable…more rational, and even if it’s not, that’s still the place where we can get away and figure it all out. All we need is a few minutes of “me” time. God is welcome to direct our lives, but not now. Not here. This is our comfortable little white noise zone. We let so many things in that we can’t distinguish between any of them, including our Heavenly Father.
He created us for a purpose…His purpose. The best way to find out the purpose of anything is to ask the one who made it, but we pretend as if we have it all under control and even if we don’t, just a little while in the zone and we’ll be fine.
The Bible describes God as a still, small voice. I think sometimes we tell ourselves that if God really wants our attention He’ll let us know in some over-the-top, obvious way. We wait for thunder and lightning. We wait for a bright star to point us in the right direction. We never think, or never choose, to turn down the white noise… the distractions in our lives, so we can hear Him more clearly.
Ephesians 2:10 tells us we are created to do good works that He has prepared in advance for us to do…not because He needs us, but because He wants us to want Him.
Let’s make it a point in the approaching new year to turn down our volume a little bit so we can better hear His instructions for our lives. Who knows what we may be missing and never even know it?
