We were asked to reflect on the subject of silence this week. (long pause) I think that somehow, somewhere I got it all mixed up. I began to think of silence as consent. I thought of silence as some type of weakness, like I couldn't stand up for myself or others if I wasn't flapping my lips in self defense or defense of others. If I didn't use my voice and articulate my thoughts to others I was not communicating my wants, needs and intentions. (longer pause)

I am that annoying guy in the elevator who can't deal with the silence and then I say something stupid about the weather. (pause for silence)

They say that a picture is worth a 1000 words but maybe, just maybe, silence is worth a whole heck of a lot more then that, like 10000 words wispered into the wind. Silence means you are listening. Silence means you are thinging. Silence means you are giving someone else a chance. I remember hearing in course work last semester that an effective leader is someone you don't even notice. I like that. (long pause)

Hopefully as life keeps moving faster and faster, as we are more exposed to created stimuli we will remember to find room for silence in our lives and in that silence hear what is actually happening within and around us.