Languages

There is a science fiction story where one of the characters is fluent in 39 different languages. I have heard that there are a few people in the world who are close to this, but it is not easy. To be "fluent" means that the person is able to hold a conversation without regularly "looking for the word" to use to express himself.

The vast majority of people today are not fluent in more than one language, which is usually English (and some who only know English, are not even fluent in English!). Let me ask a question: are you fluent in silence? I know that may sound like a contradiction of terms, but it is not. In order to know how to "be silent" you have to be "fluent in silence". Those who cannot stand quiet, and believe that they have to fill up every moment with some kind of noise are clearly not fluent in silence.

Silence is something that we have to learn how to "speak". What I mean by that is that we have to learn how to shut our mouths, and turn off the sound; we have to learn to use silence. If you are afraid that you will die of boredom if you have to be silent for a few moments (without anything other than natural sounds around you), then you need to learn what silence is, and what its value is in your spiritual health. The Scriptures are filled with references to the importance of silence, but we do not seem to listen to what God tells us about this (yes, the pun is intended).

Practice silence. Learn how to shut off the music, turn off the phone, and just be quiet. There is great joy in achieving such an amazing sense of peace. It cannot be explained, but only experienced. Do not turn away from this truth by giving some cheap response like, "but I like the music; what's wrong with that?" because that is what the devil wants you to say. If God commands us to learn how to "be still" and rest in silence then we must seek how to be obedient to Him in this as well.