Silence speaks louder than words

I'm continually amazed to discover that many of the things I initially thought simple and beautiful have a completely opposite state when examined from an alternate perspective. I've written before about my firm belief in the need for a balance of opposites within the universe. However lately I've been examining things on a more everyday perspective, particularly one condition I formerly saw as a purely beautiful thing: silence.

"Silence is golden." We all know the truth behind the cliche, and the grace of silence. Music could not fully take form without the spaces between notes - the silence defines or at least encapsulates the phrase. In this chaotic world silence is a blessing, and a chance to take refuge from the noise of everyday living. It is truly a gift in many circumstances, as I've reminded myself many times in the past.

But in the past few days I've realized how cruel silence can truly be. Most everyone I know can think of a person that they haven't spoken with in what they know is way too long... but still there has only been silence between them. There are always the excuses, valid and not, and the various forms of reasoning behind these walls blocking communication. Silence is a wall that only grows with time, and feeds off of our human inconsistency. For the first time I've realized that perhaps I've hurt people the most not through what I've said or done, but through the silence I've inflicted. The distance. The silence looms for months, sometimes years, and causes extreme damage within the lives of others. I've seen the effects far too many times firsthand, and while I understand that some silences are necessary as people change and grow apart... some are tragic. Relationships and friendships don't break off because of words said, but because of the silence that follows those words. Words said in anger leave eternal dents and scars, but can at least be overcome after through words of forgiveness, repentence, and peace. If no other words are said... what hope is there of moving beyond the walls?

The older I get the more I understand that life is surely not as simple as I thought it was as a child. This does not make it any darker or worse than it was then - it's merely a change in perspective, like a step backward from a slant of sunlight that allows me to see shadow. The beautiful things of this world all have painful shadows on the opposite side.. but this doesn't take away from their beauty. As a whole, the light in this universe shall always extinguish darkness. Our greatest goal, then, is to acknowledge and accept the presence of darkness but to never dwell on it or believe in its power. Such a hindrance takes away from our ability to create light.

Embrace the silences of truth within the foundations of your life. But don't let the silences of anger destroy relationships that truly mean something to you.