A Note of Encouragement

from Ciloa

A single streetlamp shining in the darkness

The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1:5 ESV

Take in the Sails

Volume XVI, Issue 31

August 1, 2016

A song appeared in 1965. A man, speaking to darkness as his old friend, described a vision of frustration and pain. Alone, beneath a solitary streetlamp, he saw thousands of "people talking without speaking, people hearing without listening." No one dared disturb the sound of silence.

He cried out, "Fools, you do not know. Silence like a cancer grows. Hear my words that I might teach you. Take my arms that I might reach you." But his words fell like silent raindrops among them. And though they bowed and prayed, they worshiped a god they had made.

Then a sign flashed a warning. "The words of the prophets are written on subway walls and tenement halls...and whispered in the sounds of silence."¹

The 60's were a time of great unrest. The issues were many...war, government, discrimination, poverty, freedom, morality, to name a few. Some spoke out and their message sprawled across walls, windows, billboards, and trains...anything that offered a willing canvas.

But far more just ignored them. They refused to see and listen, and did nothing. Hope for unity and love was replaced with desperate division and hatred. And darkness grew in their silence.

I've heard a powerful cover of that song² and thought of those Jesus described as though looking, they do not see, though hearing, they do not understand.³ Many issues that they faced, we face, often in the same way...with ignorance, blind eyes, and deaf ears.

And yet we are to be different. Rather than ignoring others, we are told to love them...even those who don't share our beliefs and who we may despise or find worthless. The standard is simple: Love your neighbor as yourself. Along with loving God, there is no greater command!⁴

Such love can be difficult, especially when we see the other as a jerk, mean, perhaps even evil. But we must try, for we were once enemies of God, yet Christ still died for us.⁵ God understands this can be hard, so He made it simple. Love is not emotion, but action. So, do good.

Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.⁶ As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.⁷

A man helping an elderly lady cross a busy street

Children helping to restore old furniture

Peter once wrote, For it is God's will that by doing good you may silence the ignorance of foolish men.⁸ The Greek word here for silence means "to muzzle", and we usually think only of a restraint, like that used on an animal.

But "to muzzle" also refers to taking in the sails so a wayward wind cannot affect a boat's direction.⁹ It isn't about silencing ignorance, but rendering useless the storm of their mockery and hate.

Peter was a fisherman who sailed the Sea of Galilee. He understood the power of the wind, just as he understood the power of ignorance in foolish people. He wanted us to understand that it's time to take in the sails. Fools may rant and rave, but their words will have no effect on us.

You can do this! You can love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. You can love others as Christ loves you. And through your love...by doing good...people will know that you follow the Living God.

May we...

Take in the sails,

Stand together as one,

Do good to those around us,

and Break through the sound of silence!

Take care & be God's,

Chuck

1. "The Sound of Silence", written by Paul Simon, originally appeared in 1964 as "The Sounds of Silence" on the album "Wednesday Morning, 3.A.M.", Columbia Records; released as a single in 1965.

2. "The Sound of Silence", recorded by Disturbed and released on their album "Immortalized", 2015, Reprise.

3. Matthew 13:13b

4. Mark 12:31

5. See Romans 5:8,10

6. Luke 6:27-28

7. John 13:34b-35

8. 1 Peter 2:15

9. Collins English Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 � HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

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