Silence … is golden?

by Derek Dobson

The Oxford English Dictionary describes ‘silence’ as: the complete absence of sound, and the fact or state of abstaining from speech. But why is it that we sometimes ‘fear’ silence?

We live in a very busy and noisy world. And statistics show that it’s going to get busier – and noisier. In fact there’s a charity – Environmental Protection UK(EPU)¹ – concerned with the pace at which environmental problems such as noise are escalating and whose vision is of a cleaner, quieter and healthier world. Research by EPU has shown that noise impacts the wellbeing of 1 in 100 people. And according to a WHO² study, 1.8% of heart attacks in high income European countries are attributed to traffic noise levels higher than 60dB. (There’s even an annual campaign, ‘Noise Action Week’³ when organisations from across the country will be shouting about noise – raising awareness of issues ranging from barking dogs to sound standards for schools.) Noise is all around us.

Fearful of silence
So you’d think that after a hectic day in the office – or in town – where voices and noises get to an almost ‘pollutant’ level, that the quiet tranquillity of coming home to an empty house would be an oasis of peace. But not so for the majority of us. Almost instinctively, faced with a void of noise we turn on the radio or TV! Is it for company? Do we really need extra sound to fill the vacuum? And what is this thing called ‘silence’ – an alien being that we have so much difficulty in accepting? (And if you have a real phobia of silence, there’s even a name for it – sedatephobia.)

Yet so often there are times in our lives we crave peace and silence in order to relax and unwind. Prof Sherry Turkle⁴, a distinguished US social commentator, writes: ‘In our modern age, we fear loneliness more than anything else – and we seem to be terrified of silence.’ But is silence really so frightening that we fear to be alone?

We read in the Bible many times that when Jesus wanted to pray, he often chose the silence of being alone. For it is in silence that we are able to concentrate, cast out of our minds all distractions and focus our thoughts on whatever subject or problem the world encourages us to walk away from.

Helen Keller, the American author, once said, ‘Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content.’ She was blind and deaf and a true disciple of courage and determination. The deaf have no choice, for they live in a permanent state of silence and, perhaps, we sometimes envy such a state which can block out the vocal irritations others have to endure.

Confronted with our inner self
And yet, in silence and contemplation, we are confronted with the truth of our inner being – not always something that is easy to accept!

Each year at the eleventh hour, of the eleventh day, of the eleventh month we observe two minutes’ silence in order to remember all those who have given their lives so that we may be free. This time provides an opportunity to focus our thoughts and prayers on the greatest sacrifice anyone can give, ‘that he lay down his life for his friends’.⁵

Silence can be a much-needed break from life’s ‘busyness’ – a time out to reflect and re-group our thoughts.

And we find that some monastic communities live under strict vows of silence or severely restrict the use of speech in their daily life. Many counsellors (of which I am one) will often speak of the importance of silences during a counselling session. Such silences – sometimes running into many minutes – can prove a valuable opportunity in which to reflect on what has been discussed and also to think about feelings.

Mother Teresa has some profound words on the power of silence: ‘We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature – trees, flowers, grass – grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls.’

Of course, Mother Teresa had a never-ending and God-given ability to point us to the heart of the subject. We meet with our Maker in the silence of our inner being and often – particularly when praying alone – with the peace and tranquillity that silence can bring.

So the next time you face silence – instead of avoiding it, embrace it. Silence really can be golden.

1. www.environmental-protection.org.uk
2. World Health Organisation
3. Noise Action Week 2011 runs 23rd-27th May. www.noiseactionweek.org.uk
4. Sherry Turkle is Professor of the Social Studies of Science and Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a sociologist. She is author of three books about the revolution in communications.
5. John 15:13

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