Turn Down the Noise
Yesterday morning, I needed to mop my floor. Wanting to make the most of the time, I decided to do my daily devotional as I worked. Using an app that offers scripture readings and reflection questions, I figured I could mop and meditate at the same time.
The passage was Isaiah 65:17-21—a vision of the new heavens and new earth. It’s a passage I know well, one that has shaped me for two decades. I love the imagery—people building homes and living in them, planting gardens and enjoying their harvest. Infants and the elderly live out meaningful days. So much of my life has been dedicated to holistic Kingdom-building, and this vision has been a guiding light.
As the reading concluded and I continued mopping, the narrator transitioned to the reflection questions. But just then, the noise outside swelled—sirens, cars, construction. The questions were drowned out. I strained to listen, but the noise was too much.
And it struck me: this happens all the time. The constant hum of life—the distractions, responsibilities, and anxieties—can make it hard to hear God’s voice, to remember the ways the Spirit is renewing all things. And if my capacity to remember is diminished, so is my ability to participate.
What might it look like to turn down the noise in your own life? To create space to listen, reflect, and respond to God’s work in your midst?
-Lisa Rodriguez-Watson
National Director, Missio Alliance
