Life Lessons on Two Wheels (Part Nine) "The Beautiful Sound of Silence."

I've been riding the Goldwing for about a week now, and I love it.

The first few days I took the bike out to practice and get comfortable on it. By the weekend I was ready for Kathy to join me (almost as much as she was).

Our first ride was a local loop we often take, thinking riding familiar roads would be a wise way to start. The next day we went north to Parry Sound then a beautiful ride through Creemore this past Sunday.

I won't go as far as to say I'm comfortable on the new ride, but man, it's a nice bike. It's not only big and fast, but it has so many other features that makes it almost feel like a luxury vehicle.

It's many features include, ABS brakes, reverse, cruise control, intercom and other audio options including radio, CB, CD and I even added a playlist via a USB flash drive. (Kathy says it's like riding around on a sofa, which means she might fall sleep more than she did on the Shadow 750)

Now, for the 4 years we've been riding, we never listened to music. I tried it once, but music in my helmet mic drowned out too much of what I wanted to hear around me.

Now with the option to listen to music through the rider and passenger speakers on the Goldwing, we decided to try it again.

You want to know something? We enjoyed it for a while, and perhaps if/when we ride across Canada we will want to break up the day with some tunes, but we still prefer the quiet.

And speaking of quiet, the first thing Kathy noticed about the new bike is how quiet it is. It doesn't really sound like a motorcycle (so if you like the rumble of a Harley, you won't like our bike). It actually sounds more like a small sports car...it does have a 1.8 litre 6 cylinder engine after all.

But here's my point. We live in an age where we are surrounded, even bombarded by noise. We carry mini computers around with us all day with notifications pinging. We have so many streaming options that we are always a click away from some kind of input...movies, sports, and news to mention a few. I know people who can't live without some kind of noise, even if it's just background noise. They just refuse quiet.

But can I suggest, that for our well-being; our personal, emotional and spiritual well-being, we need more quiet not less.

Thomas Merton, quotes Isaac of Ninevah saying, "Every man who delights in a multitude of words, even though he says admirable things, is empty within. If you love truth, be a lover of silence. Silence will unite you to God himself...more than all things, love silence."

One of my favourite theologians, Dallas Willard, was asked how best to grow as a Christian? And he responded by saying that reading the Bible and solitude were essential.

Solitude

How do you respond to that word? I suppose our personalities impact how we do, and maybe being an introvert, I value it more, but the older I get the more solitude I want. I try to sit in silence in the morning, which helps me actually have quiet time. It's not always easy to do, because life has a way of tempting us with things that "need" our attention.

Perhaps this is why the Psalmist echoes God's heart, "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

In a day of noisy options, maybe we should be more intentional about pursuing stillness, quiet and solitude.

So as I get more and more comfortable on the Goldwing, even with all its audio options, I think I will embrace the quiet ride and the beautiful sound of silence.

Q. What keeps you from silence?

Q. How can you add more silence to your day?

If you're feeling stuck, not sure how to make the changes you want to make in your life, let's talk.