A QUIET WEEK

Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;
    keep watch over the door of my lips.

[Psalm 141:3 NRSVUE]

The title of today’s reflection was inspired by Garrison Keillor’s opening line from his weekly satirical parody “The News from Lake Wobegon,” which aired years ago each Saturday evening on many National Public Radio stations.

Keillor began each segment with the sentence, “Well, it’s been a quiet week in Lake Wobegon, Minnesota, my hometown, out on the edge of the prairie.”

But it’s been anything but a quiet week…in Lake Wobegon or anywhere.

In the aftermath of all the gun violence that has ended the lives of school children, a conservative activist, law enforcement officers, and countless other nameless victims, everyone is weighing in with an opinion – no matter whether informed or ignorant.

I am astonished by the multitude of voices clamoring to be heard.

It is at times like these that I toy with the idea of just shutting down. Although I want to continue my twice-weekly writing, I have to question myself, “Just what am I contributing? Who cares what I think?”

Already we have witnessed the hazard of venturing an opinion without first weighing the consequences. Several well-known media personalities have lost their prominent positions as a result of ill-timed statements that rubbed powerful politicians the wrong way. Freedom of speech is quickly losing favor when it offers an opposing opinion that is viewed as offensive to sensitive ears.

But that hasn’t seemed to stop anyone. Nowhere does there appear to be a forceful, let alone effective deterrent. Self-control is in short supply.

People don’t seem or want to realize that words have power. And when we render an opinion merely for our own satisfaction, we also fail to realize that someone, somewhere, is reading or listening.

To paraphrase the prophet Isaiah, “the words that go forth from our mouths will not return to us empty.”

Psalm 141, cited above, has been one of those nuggets of wisdom I’ve relied on to quell my temptation to dive into controversial topics or discussions without first thinking through the potential outcomes of what I may offer.

The verse that follows is also worthy of consideration:

Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil
    so that I take part in wicked deeds
along with those who are evildoers;
    do not let me eat their delicacies.
                                                         [141:4]

It’s possible that maybe, just maybe, in the silence of our thoughts, we may be able to hear God’s voice gently suggesting a different course of action.

I’m reminded of God’s interaction with Elijah in the book of 1 Kings.

Elijah was at a crisis point in his prophetic career. He was running away from Jezebel, the wicked queen who was putting prophets to death. Elijah feared for his life.

[God] 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]

Let me be clear. Silence is not the answer, but a pivotal moment. It is that silence which may allow us the grace and time to determine what, if anything, to do next.

Psalm 62:1 is another reference that affirms this:

For God alone my soul in silence waits;
    from him comes my salvation.
[Book of Common Prayer]

And if you’re not moved by scriptural guidance, there is always Simon and Garfunkel’s popular song from the sixties that resonates with the same theme:

Hello, darkness, my old friend
I’ve come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence

“The Sound of Silence”
Writer: Paul Simon
Copyright: Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group source: https://www.lyricsondemand.com/s/simonandgarfunkellyrics/thesoundofsilencelyrics.html

Finally, I want to repeat something I’ve said or written plenty of times in previous posts. It is a guide that I use when I’m inclined to react without first taking a moment to think.

I call it the THINK principle, and I would highly recommend it for your peace of mind. First ask yourself these questions about what you are about to say or write:

One final word of advice is to stay off Facebook or other social media for a while. I know it’s a challenge. But try it and see how much better you feel afterwards.

You’ll thank me later – I guarantee it!