Driving in Silence

Driving is something that I didn’t know I missed until I returned to Pennsylvania. On the days that I need a car, I wake up early to drive my sister to school. We have a little routine. I go out first and start the car. She walks out a minute later with her school bags, lunch box, and breakfast shake in tow. I open my door to grab her shake. She puts her stuff in the back seat. We buckle up. As I back out onto the street, she plugs in her phone to the stereo and chooses a playlist. We listen. We sing along. We talk. When I drop her off at school, we wish each other a good day as she takes her music away, grabs her bags, then walks into school.

Finally, I drive home. This is when I have a choice: I could turn on the radio, or I could remain in silence. Recently, I have felt challenged to keep the radio off when I drive alone. With the absence of music, I can reflect on who God is. My 10-minute drive home becomes a special time when I can enjoy God when I can praise Him by thinking about His nature.

This Lent season, instead of taking something away from my day or denying myself something, I am trying to add something beneficial to my life. I try to set aside a couple of minutes every day to dwell on the Lord, to consider His work. This is a time when I can rejoice in God simply because He is worthy of praise. It is an exercise in humbling myself and shifting my focus away from myself.

This Lent season, would you take some time to enjoy who God is? It could be as simple as turning off the music in your car and considering the mighty, awe-inspiring work of His hands.