The Blessing of Quietness
by J. R. Miller
Quietness, like mercy, is twice blessed—it blesses him who is quiet, and it
blesses the man's friends and neighbors. Talk is good in its way. "There is
a time to speak," but there is also "a time to be silent," and
in silence many of life's sweetest blessings come. An Italian proverb says,
"He who speaks does sow; he who holds his peace does reap." We all
know the other saying which rates speech as silver—and silence as
gold. There are in the Scriptures, too, many strong persuasives to
quietness and many exhortations against noise. It was prophesied of the
Christ: "He will not cry out or shout or make His voice heard in the
streets." Isaiah 42:2. As we read the Gospels we see that our Lord's whole
life was a fulfillment of this ancient prophecy. He made no noise in the
world. He did his work without excitement, without ostentation, without
confusion. He wrought as the light works—silently, yet pervasively and with
resistless energy.
Quietness is urged, too, on Christ's followers. "This
should be your ambition: to live a quiet life." 1 Thessalonians 4:11.
"Busy-bodies" the same apostle exhorts that "with quietness they work."
Prayers are to be made for rulers "that we may lead a quiet and peaceable
life." Another apostle, writing to Christian women, speaks of their true
adornment as being "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the
sight of God of great price." Solomon rates quietness in a home far above
the best of luxuries: "Better is a dry morsel and quietness—than an house
full of feasting with strife!" A prophet declares the secret of power in
these words: "In quietness and confidence, shall be your strength"; and
likewise says, "The work of righteousness shall be peace, and the effect of
righteousness quietness and assurance forever." It is set down also as one
of the blessings of God's people—that they shall dwell in "quiet
resting-places." These are but a few of very many scriptural words
concerning quietness—but they are enough to indicate several lessons that we
may profitably consider.
We should be quiet towards God. The expression,
"Rest in the Lord." Psalm 37:7; could also be translated, "Be silent before
the Lord." We are not to speak back to God, when he speaks to us. We are not
to reason with him or dispute with him—but are to bow in silent and loving
acquiescence before him: "Be still, and know that I am God." It is in those
providences which cut sorely into our lives and require sacrifice and loss
on our part—that we are specially called to this duty.
There is a moving illustration of silence to God, in the
case of Aaron when his sons had offered strange fire, and had died before
the Lord for their disobedience and sacrilege. The record says, "And Aaron
held his peace." He even made no natural human outcry of grief. He accepted
the terrible penalty as unquestionably just, and bowed in the acquiescence
of faith. This silence to God should be our attitude in all times of trial,
when God's ways with us are bitter and painful. Why should we complain at
anything that our Father may do? We have no right to utter a word of
murmuring, for he is our sovereign Lord, and our simple duty is instant,
unquestioning submission. We have no reason to complain—for we know that all
God's dealings with us are in loving wisdom. His will is always best for us,
whatever sacrifice or suffering it may cost.
We should train ourselves to be quiet also toward men.
There are times when we should speak and when words are mighty and full
of blessing. Universal silence would not be a blessing to the world. Among
the most beneficent of God's gifts to us—is the power of speech. And we are
to use our tongues. There are some people who are altogether too quiet in
certain directions and toward certain people. There is no place where good
words are more fitting than between husband and wife, yet there are husbands
and wives who pass weeks and months together in almost unbroken silence.
They will travel long journeys side by side in the railway-car, and utter
scarcely a word in the whole distance. They will walk to and from church,
and neither will speak. In the home life, they will pass whole days with
nothing more in the form of speech between them, than an indifferent remark
about the weather, a formal inquiry and a monosyllabic answer.
Husbands certainly ought to have something to say, when
they come into their homes from the busy world outside. They are usually
congenial enough in the circles of business or politics or literature, and
are able to talk so as to interest others. Ought they not to seek to be as
congenial in their own homes, especially toward their own wives! Most women,
too, are able to talk in general society. Why, then, should a wife fall into
such a mood of silence the moment she and her husband are alone? It was
Franklin who wisely said, "As we must account for every idle word—so
must we for every idle silence." We must not forget that silence may
be sadly overdone, especially in homes.
There are other silences that are also to be deplored.
People keep in their hearts unspoken, the kindly words they might utter—and
ought to utter—in the ears of the weary, the soul-hungry, and the sorrowing
about them. The ministry of good words is one of wondrous power, yet
many of us are wretched misers with our gold and silver coin of speech. Is
any miserliness so base? Ofttimes we allow hearts to starve close beside us,
though in our very hands we have abundance to feed them. One who attends the
funeral of any ordinary man and listens to what his neighbors have to say
about him as they stand by his coffin, will hear enough kind words spoken to
have brightened whole years of his life. But how was it when the man was
living, toiling and struggling among these very people? Ah! they were
not so faithful then with their grateful, appreciative words. They were too
quiet toward him then. Silence was overdone. Quietness is carried too far,
when it makes us disloyal to the hearts which crave our words of love and
sympathy.
But there is a quietness toward others which all
should cultivate. There are many words spoken which ought never to
pass the door of the lips! There are people who seem to exercise no
restraint whatever on their speech. They allow every passing thought or
feeling to take form in words. They never think what the effect of
their words will be—how they will fly like arrows shot by some careless
marksman and will pierce hearts they were never meant to hurt! Thus
friendships are broken, and injuries are inflicted—which can never be
repaired. Careless words are forever making grief and sorrow in tender
spirits. We pity the dumb whom sometimes we meet. Dumbness is more
blessed by far than speech—if all we can do with our marvelous gift is to
utter bitter, angry, abusive or sharp, cutting words.
Another kind of common talk that had better be repressed
into complete silence, is the miserable gossip which forms so large a
part—let us confess it and deplore it—of ordinary parlor conversation. Few
appreciative and kindly things, are spoken of absent ones—but there is no
end to criticism, snarling and backbiting. The most unsavory bits of scandal
are served with relish, and no blameless character is armor against the
virulence and maliciousness of the tongues, which chatter on as innocently
and glibly as if they were telling sweet stories of good! It certainly would
be infinitely better if all this kind of speech, were reduced to utter
silence! It is better that complete silence is used, in place of any
conversation whatever if there is nothing to be talked about but the faults
and foibles and the characters and doings of absent people! Will not some
brave person preach a crusade against backbiting? Shall we not have a new
annual "week of prayer" to cry to God for the gift of silence—when we have
nothing good or true or beautiful to say? No victories should be more
heroically battled for, or more thankfully recorded than victories of
silence—when we are tempted to speak unhallowed words of others!
Silence is better, also, than any words of bickering and
strife. There is no surer, better way of preventing quarrels, than by the
firm restraining of speech. "A soft answer turns away wrath," but if we
cannot command the "soft answer" when another person is angry, the
second-best thing is not to speak at all. "Grievous words stir up anger."
Many a long, fierce strife, which has produced untold pain and heartburning
would never have been anything more than a momentary flash of anger—if one
of the parties had practiced the holy art of silence!
Someone tells of the following arrangement which worked
successfully in preventing family quarrels: "You see, sir," said an old man,
speaking of a couple in his neighborhood who lived in perfect harmony, "they
had agreed between themselves that whenever he came home a little contrary
and out of temper, he would wear his hat on the back of his head—and then
she never said a word; and if she came in a little cross and crooked, she
would throw her shawl over her left shoulder—and he never said a word." So
they never quarreled. He who has learned to be silent spares himself
ofttimes from shame. Many men have owed their reputation for great wisdom,
quite as much to their silence as to their speech. They have
not spoken the many foolish things of the glib talker, and have uttered only
few and well-considered words.
An English writer gives the story of a groom wedded to a
lady of wealth. He was in constant fear of being ridiculed by his wife's
guests. A clergyman said to him, "Wear a black coat and hold your tongue."
The new husband followed the advice, and soon was considered one of the
finest gentlemen in the country. The power of keeping quiet would be
worth a great deal to many people whose tongues are forever betraying their
ignorance, and revealing their true character. All true culture is toward
the control and the restraining of speech. Christian faith
gives a quietness which in itself is one of life's holiest blessings. It
gives the quietness of peace—a quietness which the wildest storms cannot
disturb, which is a richer possession than all the world's wealth or power.
"This should be your ambition: to live a quiet life."
The lesson may be hard to many of us—but it is well worth all the cost of
learning. It brings strength and peace to the heart. Speech is
good—but ofttimes silence is better. He who has learned to hold his
tongue—is a greater conqueror than the warrior who subdues an empire! The
power to be silent under provocations and wrongs and in the midst of danger
and alarms—is the power of the noblest, royalest victoriousness!