“He said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.”
(1 Kings 19: 11-12 NRSV)
After a severe cold a number of years ago I was left with ringing in my years. No problem, it will go away. Six months later I sought medical advice for the ringing that would not go away. After numerous tests I was told, “You have tinnitus.” Treatment? “Go home and live with it!”
Yes, I have tinnitus. I am in good company. William Shatner of Star Trek fame is the celebratory spokesperson for Tinnitus. Tinnitus has nothing to do with the ear but everything to do with the brain. No one else can hear it not even with the best medical equipment. Tinnitus can be anything from an occasional irritation to an utterly debilitating affliction. I have made a certain peace with my ‘noise’ though at times I crave the ‘sheer silence’ that used to accompany prayer and meditation.
Modern life is full of noise that detracts from the peace and quiet we crave, even making it difficult to hear the divine through the din of the day. The ‘noise’ of my tinnitus doesn’t go away but in prayer and meditation it is replaced by a peace and a presence that is far more powerful.
Today you have opportunity to address the noise that is part of your life by the things you do and by the time you take to withdraw to a quiet place as did Jesus in Luke 5:15.
Prayer: God, the world is full of such noise, noise that overwhelms our senses. Tinnitus is one of those noises that is insistent and often debilitating in my life. Let the sheer silence of your voice overwhelm the meaningless of the neverending sound and bring me closer to you.
Thought for the day: Please forgive me if I don’t talk much at times. It’s loud enough in my head. #powerofpositivity
Kenn Stright
(To access the entire “Where Is God When it Hurts” mini-series, please click here!)