Thursday, April 20, 2006
Balance - Noise or Nothing
I really struggle with silence! Apple encourages me to stick an iPod in my pocket and fill my head with my choise of music, Microsoft encourages me to upgrade my PC to enable photos, movies, songs to be at my finger tips, and Channel 10 reakons I should just "Turn it On". Ben Lee sings "Awake is the new sleep"!!!
Who should be encouraging us to sit still and just be? Is this selfish or a life sustaining action? What importance, if any, do we place on our ability to isolate ourselves from our world and listen to our thoughts? Are we in in a perpetual world where continued mass stimulation of our senses is going to eradicate our understanding or solitude? Will it be possible to sit and be us?
My challange is to try and keep things balanced. Enjoy my noise but love my silence. Turn things off and listen.
# posted by Dr Dan @ 10:34 pm 
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Amen brother. God wants me to spend some time with Him every time that I go to sit on this computer. I'm gonna do it too - I just claimed this office as holy ground :) No really, just then.
My craving for God is my new craving for computer games, if you see my thinkin :)
My craving for God is my new craving for computer games, if you see my thinkin :)
Thanks for the welcome, I think. Its interesting that you took the slant of silence being God driven. I certainly think that is important however it also is beggs the question about time for ourselves, to collect our thoughts, spend time being ourselves. Is that one in the same?
Well said! I must admit that I find it hard to be still and silent. But whenever I discipline myself to do it, it's a wonderful thing and I come away feelign refreshed and ready to go again. I don't think our culture allows for solitude, we live such a busy hectic life. The push is that to be still is to be useless. But I doubt that's actually true...
Welcome to the world of blogging!
Welcome to the world of blogging!
Is that one in the same?
I like this Dan -- it seems to me you are suggesting we be more creative in our understanding of spirituality and being...or am I wrong?
I like this Dan -- it seems to me you are suggesting we be more creative in our understanding of spirituality and being...or am I wrong?
I definately think there is a link, a partnership that we often do not explore. As a Christian, I am taught the importance of growth in my spiritual life. This often gets decoded as a challange to my ability to dedicate time to praying and reading the Bible. Is the message we are given more than that and does it aply to our whole life or just part? Does the lack of quiteness in life, in our culture really impact us? Is it our meathod of hiding from our thoughts? Does that action create a sense of ignorance and biterness in us? How do we change? Is ignornance really bliss? I suppose my suggestion is that we need to explore what makes us tick, our being.
Love the pic Dr Dan! It's very, very...
I wonder if "solitude" in itself (even for non believers) is a practise worth cultivating?
"Reflection and Prayer" is another practise, that may well involve solitude - but I don't think they are the same.
Classic cuture, for example insisted that its young men learnt the art of solitude ... as fundamental to becoming useful citizens in 'multitude'.
I wonder if it's because we often use phrases like "Quiet Time" to refer to our time with God that we blur the two.
I think prayer can become a ritual mantra an emotionally comforting babble of noisesome words if we don't also build in straightforward, no-name-brand think time.
I wonder if "solitude" in itself (even for non believers) is a practise worth cultivating?
"Reflection and Prayer" is another practise, that may well involve solitude - but I don't think they are the same.
Classic cuture, for example insisted that its young men learnt the art of solitude ... as fundamental to becoming useful citizens in 'multitude'.
I wonder if it's because we often use phrases like "Quiet Time" to refer to our time with God that we blur the two.
I think prayer can become a ritual mantra an emotionally comforting babble of noisesome words if we don't also build in straightforward, no-name-brand think time.
I think that's it. I find that in my world I jump from one task to another in an attempt to keep up with the pace set for me (or by me??). It is not in my daily, weekly, monthy schedule to purposly find "solitude" and I think that is catching up with me. In reflection over the last 3 or 4 months, it is something I have to work at. It's not as easy as just saying I'm going to do nothing. That doesnt come natuarally. It's purposly putting aside time, booking a slot in the calander, to do nothing. A little ironic isnt it, having to book a time to do nothing!!! But like you say, I believe it is becoming more important to have this time, especially if we want to remain sane.
Why no link, you have nothing to say on this topic?? Interested in your thoughts always DBoy! Differences of opinion leads to new ways of thinking!
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