thankful for: silence

I recently bought a car. My first big purchase! I feel quite like an adult now, especially with all the new bills. I upgraded from my loyal volvo to a more rugged jeep. I have really enjoyed it! It made it's first road trip out to the Grand Canyon and back in September with my best friend. I have named it AJ (which stands for Adventure Jeep) and I plan on having many more adventures in it!

The only thing that was missing when I bought it was... a stereo. As a lover of music believe me that was a disappointment. The old owner took out the face plate when they sold it. All I thought was I had to get a new face plate for the stereo and it would be fine but it will cost more than I thought...so at the moment I am stereo-less. After a week or so I could not stand the silence it brought. I did not want to think. Thinking was not good at the time and having no way to drown out my thoughts I could not escape. I stopped driving for a while and tried to avoid going anywhere. As I got involved in a Bible study and wanting to see friends and buy food I could not avoid for very long. Little did I know that over time I would come to welcome the silence and the comfort it brought.

Sometimes I get so busy I forget to think...or I get busy on purpose so I do not have to think. It was at a time where God wanted to speak to my heart and forced me to have time with Him. Unfortunately, I did not want to open my heart up to Him. Weeks and weeks went by and He slowly broke me down until I started to really enjoy the car rides I would take to and from camp. I started to look forward to the silence. I would look forward to the time I could sit and pray and talk to God. It was hard at first and there were rides I could not see the road through my tears. God has used this time of silence to fill it with His love.

I love driving now and taking others with me gives us a chance to talk without the distraction of music. Do not get me wrong I LOVE music and I am always listening to something. But, not having music to drown out God's voice gives me a chance to be open to Him. I will eventually get a stereo but I am in no rush and I know when I do I plan on still making time for silent rides with God. I am thankful for silence and the truth it reveals, even when it can sometimes be painful.