Silence is a Resource
“Then Jesus said, ‘Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.’ He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat. So they left by boat for a quiet place, where they could be alone.’”1
One night in March 2010, 100 marketing experts gathered into a restaurant in Helsinki, Finland. Their goal was to make a remote and medium-sized country a world-famous tourist destination. The problem was that Finland was known as a quiet country, and the Country Brand Delegation had been looking for a national brand that would make some noise. The experts pondered over the different strengths of their nation. There country had exceptional teachers, an abundance of wild berries and mushrooms, and a vibrant culture capital the size of Nashville, Tennessee. However, these things fell short of a compelling national identity. Someone proposed that maybe quiet wasn’t such a bad thing. That got them thinking.
A few months later, the delegation issued a slick “Country Brand Report.” It highlighted a list of marketable themes, but one key theme was brand new: silence. As the report explained, modern society often seems intolerably loud and busy. “Silence is a resource,” it said. “In the future, people will be prepared to pay for the experience of silence.” The next year, the Finnish Tourist Board released a series of photographs of lone figures in the wilderness, with the caption “Silence, Please.”
We live in a loud world, and more and more we see people seeking silence. Personally, our family covets our time away in the mountains, hiking through trails, because you can hear nothing more than nature. Finland had the right idea when they said, “Silence is a resource” because we need this silence in our lives to have healthy bodies and minds.
Jesus gave us the example of seeking silence several times throughout his ministry on earth. He was constantly being followed by multitudes of people, and those quiet times away in prayer, gave him the refreshment he needed to continue. When he created us, he preset us with the need for rest. If we do not get the rest we need, we will be unable to function at our very best and will eventually burn out.
Make intentional rest a priority. Not just for relaxation, but to spend time with our Father. It is truly amazing what time away in prayer and meditation can do. Perhaps God knew it would be difficult for us to get away from the noise around us, so he made nature so beautifully irresistible! Whether it’s in the mountains, by a lake, in your own yard, or simply looking out your window, spend some time basking in God’s goodness today.
Suggested prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for making rest a human need. Because it is in those times of rest and silence when I can hear you more clearly. Thank you for always being ready to listen and answer when I pray and for being my source of strength. In Jesus’ name, amen.
1. Mark 6:31-32 (NLT).
Today’s Encounter was written by: Crystal B.
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