In the 1960’s “The Sound of Silence” was written by Simon and Garfunkel and released in the midst of the hot mess of love gone wild. The lyrics are not about silence. They clearly point to disconnection. People talking without meaning. A world full of voices that paint dark visions minus hope. The song does not name a villain, but in the end, it slides in the prophets of old who were woefully disregarded. Reflect.
“Hello darkness, my old friend, I’ve come to talk with you again. Because a vision softly creeping, left its seeds while I was sleeping —and the vision that was planted in my brain still remains. Within the sound of silence. In restless dreams I walked alone. Narrow streets of cobblestone. Neath the halo of a street lamp, I turned my collar to the cold and damp. When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light that split the night and touched the sound of silence. In the naked light I saw 10,000 people, maybe more. People talking without speaking, people hearing without listening. People writing songs that voices never share. No one dared disturb the sound of silence. Fools said I, you do not know SILENCE like a CANCER grows?
Hear MY WORDS that I might teach you. Take My arms that I might reach you” But MY words like silent raindrops fell — and echoed in the wells of silence. And the people bowed and prayed to the neon god they made, and the sign flashed out its WARNING in the WORDS that it was forming. And the sign said, “The words of the PROPHETS are written on the subway walls and tenement halls. And whispered in the sounds of silence.”
New lyrics in 2026 penned with the same sound. “Holy Spirit, my constant Friend, I’ve come to talk with You again. Because a vision softly hovers, watered seeds while I’m sleeping. The vision of God’s glory planted firmly in my brain, He still remains, within the sound of His whisper, my heart is pierced in the holy silence.” Amen
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” By the grace of God, our sins have been washed away. All the neon sign distractions, all the speed limits we have broken, and all our endless selfish choices, all forgiven. The grace of God wrecks me as I consider all that Jesus has done and finished for me, a sinner. Science calls it dopamine, but Holy Scripture calls it the desires of the flesh. Our Father gave us His clear instructions. As believers we are to crucify our flesh, and not weakly obey every desire. 1 Cor 9:27 “I discipline my body and I make it my slave.” Is my flesh in charge of my thinking? Does your flesh scream out what it wants? Does it crave things that do not truly satisfy? Does your flesh try to make demands as if you are it’s slave? Do you quickly justify your indulgence with, “Just one bite can’t hurt!” Are we wise to appease an undisciplined child by giving into all it cries out for? Does our Father in heaven give us what He knows will destroy us? In an immature tantrum our flesh may rage in a loud voice to have its way. If we submit, and allow our flesh to lead us, will we please God? Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Our Father asks us to be holy because He is holy, so do we ask Holy Spirit to give us guidance and strength? Without FAITH that Father knows BEST, we cannot please Him. So if we do not ask Him, if we do not deny ourselves, can we please God? Our flesh chases comfort, sugar, more screen time, and more selfish pleasures. The truth: our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and it is our responsibility to make the flesh our slave, not the other way around. “Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth. Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures. Love never ends.” 1 Corin 13:6 Encourage one another and build one another up. Sermon Clip
Living Abroad 