Stories, books, movies, TV shows, music, so much noise. Every day it seems that every moment we are bombarded with distractions and noise. Sometimes we choose the noise and even enjoy it. It’s more familiar than the quiet.

Recently, I went on the Walk to Emmaus retreat as an Angel serving. When you go on the walk you remove your watch and put away your cell phone. For four days, you get tucked away in this place where the outside noise is silenced or greatly lessened. That doesn’t mean it’s not fun or entertaining, it doesn’t mean that it’s always quiet but the distractions from your life and daily existence are buffered and away. In that place you can begin to hear, maybe things that were there but you couldn’t hear before.

Have you ever gone outside and when you first go out there’s no sound. All the animals stop scurrying about and making noise because you were there. They heard you arrive, and they don’t know if you might be a danger to them. If you stand really still and give it just a few moments the birds will start to sing again. The squirrels and other critters will begin to scamper about. If you don’t have your earbuds in playing music, you can hear the sound of nature alive and vibrant. But you will only hear it if you stop. That’s kind of what it’s like there. You turn it all off and you stop. You don’t have the outside noise bombarding you and you have the opportunity to rest. If you choose to embrace it and breathe that moment in, if you quiet your soul you’ll begin to hear the natural noise of life around you. You will hear things that you don’t usually hear because they’re pushed away or drowned out by the other sounds.

Now I know what you’re thinking. What does this have anything to do with our life as a believer? It has a lot to do with our life as a believer actually. Recently I wrote about how being like Jesus means resting. It’s more than just resting though. Jesus demonstrated to us what this rest looks like. Jesus would separate himself and be alone. Getting away from the crowd and the noise. Away from the distractions and the other people. He would steal away.

That’s what I love about Emmaus, it gives you the opportunity to steal away. Now when you work as an Angel there are a lot less moments then when you’re a Pilgrim there but still the opportunity will present itself. I’ve been able to just sit and watch the wind blow through, spinning the little windmills and moving the branches of the trees. Moments to breathe in the presence and the peace of God. Moments where you realize how very small and temporary you are but at the same time how greatly valued and treasured.

We don’t steal away enough. In our modern fast-paced world it’s all about filling every single moment. As if by not filling it, it’s somehow less. I would argue though that filling a moment with silent and peaceful contemplation is restorative. Those moments are healing. Those moments are the moments we can hear the quiet whisper of our Savior. We’ll never have those moments unless we stop, unless we turn it off or put it away or even step away. 

I challenge you to learn God in a new way. Let him be your hiding place. Steal away under his wings, find rest there. Listen as he whispers his love and grace and hope and life over your weary soul. His wings are held wide just waiting for you to tuck yourself underneath them and find rest. His words of life are ready to pour quietly from his mouth and he just waits for you to silence the other sound so he can speak, and you can finally hear him.  

We have to learn to do as Jesus did. To take moments to separate ourselves, to be still and begin to know that he is God in a whole new way.  In a way that we’ll never understand if we don’t stop, turn it off, quiet the noise, and listen for him.

Don’t wait for a retreat or a weekend away.  Don’t wait until you’re so burned out that’s you’re desperate.  Don’t wait any longer. Choose the wise way, quiet your soul and listen. Do you hear him? He’s speaking.