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Our world is noisy. Even in the closed environments of offices, homes, and buildings the whirs of computers and air conditioning systems are constantly operating. I once was caught in a vehicle during a severe rainstorm when hail began to fall on our car.
Each hail stone hitting the roof made me think that I was inside of a drum while a rock and roll song was playing above. Sometimes we need silence though. We can find value in silence. There are things that happen behind closed doors, in silence to those outside of those doors, that are most appropriately handled there.
Those activities are backstage or behind the scenes to us and often they should be. Where might your team be operating with too much noise? This can happen when our team might be sharing their voice or sounds at inappropriate places?
I can think of times that words have been shared in the public’s eyes that were better addressed behind closed doors. In the silence though, some of the most valuable work can be done. As a team leader, are you finding some valuable moments in silence?
These can be moments where you can wrestle with your thoughts of strategy, be creative, and find compassion or strength. We can be renewed in our silence as well. Inspiration has certainly been found in the silence. What might happen if you multiply the silence in your coming week?
Where might you be able to use silence more effectively in the next seven days?
Shaping construction stones for a foundation or a building is a noisy process. Industrial hammers, heavy equipment, and transportation methods to haul them are all loud. When transported by truck they are chained to the frames of flatbed trailers.
I can hear the steel chains ringing and clinking as they are tossed around in my mind. Even in Biblical times, the hand tools to shape stones would have been noisy. But in our faith, we can find value for us in silence. In 1 Kings 6:7, we read that all the stones for the building of the temple were finished at the quarry.
No iron tools were heard at the temple construction site. How cool is that? Stones show up finished, fitted, and moved into place. Where are you working on your faith to be so prepared to be moved into place silently?
It appears that there are appropriate places to be chipping away at our stones as well as having some silent safe havens. Where might you be chipping away at stones that you can identify a better place for the noise of chipping? What is the first thing you can do about it in the next seven days?
Let us pray, Heavenly Father, we come to you in prayer. But often we do not take the time to come to the silent spot to connect with you. May we take the opportunity to find you in the silence. May we sing with zest and zeal in worship.
May we speak to spread your word on love. May we use the clamor, song, and silence all to glorify you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen,
Shoulder to Shoulder offers a lifeline for Christian business leaders, providing daily devotions infused with the timeless teachings of Jesus Christ.