Listening to the silence

It has a been a very long day!!I was awakened at 3:05 this morning to deafening silence. Nothing. No ticking of a clock, no refrigerator running, no computer humming in the background. Nothing. The candles that go on at dusk and off at dawn were even hiding their light. At first, I panicked. I was confused in my stupor. Was this absence of sound a "sign" for something or of something? There seemed be a storm of sort outside which had knocked out my power temporarily. Whew!!Only the dimly lit street light at the corner was illuminating the black iced cul de sac. The lights came back on at 3:49 just in time for me to make the usual Sunday pot of Cuban coffee. As I sipped my coffee, I heard the cacophony of all the appliances going back on. Everything was beckoning me to complete my assigned tasks for the day. The blue hue of my computer screen was calling me to check emails - some were either spam or should be spam - some were emails dealing with drama that I promised myself I would not be involved in this year. My day officially began. I was rejuvenated!

I was good to go and working like a dog when all of the sudden at 12:04 p.m. everything went dark. The unsaved work on the computer was gone. The movie in the DVD player stopped in its own tracks, the refrigerator stopped its daily hum and, once again, everything was off. What to do? I was in middle of working on a powerpoint presentation for school, typing letters, printing labels, scheduling the week, grading papers, preparing for the fashion show, ftping information on to the web all while listening to the white noise of the television. All of the sudden, silence reigned once again.The electricty was out again. No storm outside, just a power shortage. The only noise was the cat purring in his peaceful slumber on the couch with his tiny paw covering his cold nose. For thirty nine minutes all I heard was the whisper of my own thoughts running through my head. I heard the clarity. I heard renewed energy. I heard the beating of my own heart. I heard the silence. I heard the pattering of peace. Not only did I hear these things, I listened. I listened to the voice coming from deep within me advising me to go into different directions with determination. I listened to the absence of noise. I listened to the peace. I rejoiced for I was renewed.

Perhaps it was a sign from the Heavens. Perhaps it was a sign that said- "STOP and listen to the silence." Maybe, just maybe, my own electricity needed to shut off for a bit so I could be renewed in spirit, to rejoice in the silence so I could be rejuvenated for the week ahead.