Fred Rogers aka “Mister Rogers”, once said in an interview that “silence is a gift”. He then proceeded to sit in silence with the interviewer… the awkwardness in the room is palpable. You can see this clip in a documentary on his life called Won’t You Be My Neighbor? Mister Rogers wasn’t trying to get a laugh, although it was amusing to watch. Rather, he was communicating a truth I often fail to see.

Silence seems boring and unproductive. It can make us uncomfortable. In America, we are hardwired for the exact opposite. From the moment our eyelids peel open each morning we have access to sensory overload. It can start to become normal, serving as background noise.

The most common way is through technology. I use this word broadly, including social media, tv, music, and podcasts. These tools aren’t necessarily “bad” when used the right way, but they can become idols or ways we define ourselves. The culture will dump its values and thoughts into our minds if we aren’t intentionally drawing boundaries.

When we look for satisfaction in something other than our Father it quickly turns into an addiction, withering our spirit. We become spiritually dull, compromising how we spend our time, what we watch on tv, or listening to the podcast that speaks only in half-truths. We can’t have shallow entertainment and deep spirituality too.

 So, how do we contend with 21st-century distractions, keeping our hearts decluttered from the constant bombardment of secular noise?

Mister Rogers offered his thoughts on silence way before the iPhone or social media or even Google! I think it’s necessary for us to learn how to be comfortable with silence again, taking time to reflect on what we value, what we’re learning, for prayer, and most importantly, to seek the face of God in these moments.

I’m convinced most of us aren’t aware of how much we need pockets of quiet. I didn’t. How often do we take the time to be still without craving a way to be entertained?

The world moves faster in 2019 because we make it spin faster. Adding to our already overcommitted schedules, immediate gratification, loud music, comic relief, full inboxes, the latest and greatest fill in the blank, our spirits become desensitized from listening to God. The Bible says in Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God”. This is an inner peace cultivated in every believer because of our Hope in Christ, but it’s also an outward practice of actually getting quiet with God.

We don’t have to accept white noise as a normal way of living- because it isn’t. God created us to have fulfilling lives as we carry out His Kingdom work right where we are. Practicing times of getting away to be quiet each day draw us into abiding in Jesus’ strength. Our modern ways have allowed us more free time than ever in history, yet we choose how we fill that time. The question we can ask in evaluating our use of time is: Have I allowed it to serve me or am I serving it?

 Countering a constant stream of input starts by creating your own output. Here are 3 ways to help.

  1. Turn off phone notifications.

I know for some, this isn’t an option but if possible, go to the Settings on your phone and silence what notifications you can. The text alerts, Facebook messages, or latest Twitter comment will be there when you get back.

I silence text messages from everyone except my family. I do this for emergency purposes in case I am needed immediately. The example of Pavlov’s dog experiment comes to mind every time I hear my phone ding with a text. I am not a robot and neither are you so by simplifying who you allow to interrupt your day is a step in the right direction.

  1. Make time for reading.

Reading is a different kind of “technology” requiring you to engage with the words instead of passive distraction. Even reading a psalm before going to bed or in the early morning can train our thoughts upward instead of outward. Use a timer if needed, to help not lose track of time.

  1. Create margin for you and your family.

This one has the possibility for eye rolling and I get it. We are busy! But purposely making space for you and your family to be home together without something on the calendar is a gift you can give them and yourself. Saying ‘no’ even to good things is okay.

I try to not make appointments or visits with friends on Mondays. To have one day on the calendar to breathe a little and stay home is a gift I look forward to. Your margin will look different, but to work well we have to remember how to rest well and be still.

Sometimes things come up which requires flexibility to interruptions, but not to stay busy for busyness sake. Quiet moments loosen the tangled knots that need sorting in our spirit. Creating appropriate boundaries for how we use our time, making space for silence is a gift we can give ourselves, and ultimately for how we will relate to one another.

April Box is a stay-at-home mom and Christian blogger. She has a heart for encouraging others to stay faithful in the hard seasons, writing about faith and special needs parenting. She lives in Alabama with her husband and their son. You can find April on Instagram, her favorite social media spot, @redeemedingraceblog. She regularly writes on her blog www.redeemedingrace.wordpress.com and is also on Facebook @RedeemedInGraceblog