Home repairs create a noisy home. So do small children. And barking dogs.

The birds have overruled my back porch zoom meetings. Too much chirping noise.

Personal preference determines a noise good or bad. One husband’s techno music is one wife’s “How do you listen to that?”

Evidently Woolsey family dinners rank high in decibels. So say those who married in. It takes a while to get comfortable with that noise.

Noise speaks of life. Of settings that renew the soul. Of relationships treasured and opinions wanting convincing. Of pets bartering companionship for simply a few scoops a day.

Silence speaks of life absent. Of a spouse who was. Of conversation and laughter who visit only on holidays. Of birds gone south. Of hearing that no longer works.

In seasons of noise we relish silence. In seasons of silence we relish noise. Tis’ life’s pendulum.

Jesus’ lived a life of noise. Of begging and weeping. Of laughing and shouting. Of words of worship and words of hate.

 Of perfume vials breaking. Of soldiers mocking. Of boats creaking as disciples yelled.

When noise overflowed He sought silence. Silence apart from crowds. Silence for Fatherly conversation synonymous with rejuvenation. Silence to prepare for more noise.

I suspect you wish some noise gone. Which noise do you need to turn off today?

I suspect you wish some noise more. Which noise are you thankful today?

The saw and hammering and fussy kids may make it hard to think.

But no noise makes it hard to live.