Silence & Solitude...disciplines of Jesus

Teaching children about the natural world should be treated as one of the most important events in their lives. - Thomas Berry

I just watch a 10 minute clip by Rob Bell titled Noise. It's about silence and how often we are not. (conviction!)

I am also currently reading a book titled Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. It's basically about how people, specifically children, do not spend enough time outdoors with nature but rather too much time indoors with electronics. (again, conviction!)

Louv goes as far as to label this, lack of outdoor experience and exploration, "nature-deficit disorder (NDD)," which is not a legit medical diagnosis or anything of that sort. Although I think there is much truth to this NDD. He argues that encouraging children to interact with nature could very well be good therapy for depression, obesity, and ADD.

...................................

the ah-ha moment...

While the sun decided make an appearance this afternoon and the gray storm clouds disappeared for a bit, I decided to take advantage of this break in the rainy weather by taking a study break and go for a run. I quickly changed into running shorts, grabbed my keys, sunglasses, and iPod and hit the pavement. As I approached the turning point on the towpath, my playlist came to an end and my music stopped. I ran the last lap without my music...it was nice. Then, just as I began to turn around and switch my music back on, everything I just read in Last Child in the Woods and Noise hit me like a brick wall!! Even I, someone who enjoys being outdoors as much as the next person, could not even detach myself from my noisy environment. Upon this realization, I was inclined to turn off my iPod and walk the rest of my route on the towpath taking in my surroundings and reflecting on the revelation the just occurred to me.

It was pure awesome-ness!

[NOOMA Noise. Rob Bell. 2005]