Wisdom for 2019
The following articles was penned by Sierra View Homes’ Executive Director Vito Genna for our monthly email newsletter. Would you like to receive our newsletter, which includes events and happenings for the month along with messages like this? Email Kecia at KFriesen@sierraview.orgwith the email address you’d like to receive it at, or simply message us on Facebook!
The New Year was ushered in with lots of noise. If not reveling yourself, you probably watched the “noise” that was displayed at the New Year celebrations from all parts of the world. To say we live in an “age of noise” is certainly an understatement. The sounds envelop us from radio, TV, and social media.
When I was in school I used to admire the folks that could do their homework and study while the music is blaring. I am too easily distracted. Indeed, one of the first disagreements Adriana and I had was over “noise.” Adriana liked to have the radio or a tape running all the time. She enjoys background music no matter what she is doing. She often says she doesn’t listen to the lyrics, she just focuses on the melody. Needless to say it took a while to find compromise and continue marital bliss. Don’t get me wrong, I am not against this form of entertainment and even a time of distraction, but I do think it all has its place.
We live in a noisy world even in rural areas. We are bombarded with new ways of listening (some residents have ‘Alexa’), and phone telemarketers to tell us what we desperately need. We are in a world of instant awareness with 24/7 news. So much of the news cycle is babble rather than hard news. It’s a constant form of comment and noise rather than facts of the happenings.
Unfortunately, in such a so-called sophisticated atmosphere, we see way too much anxiety, worry and panic. We have given up on our peace of mind and quiet contemplation.
A 16th Century mystic gives us some sound advice in her short poem:
Let nothing distract you
Let nothing frighten you
All things are passing away
God never changes
Patience obtains all things
Whoever has God lacks nothing
God alone suffices.
May you have many happy moments in 2019, let the noise drift away and have quiet time to reflect and contemplate the constancy of God.
– Vito Genna, Executive Director
