Harrison Bergeron and Meditation: A Healthy Dose of Quiet

Kurt Vonnegut has a great little science fiction story titled "Harrison Burgeron" where the characters wear ear-pieces that essentially keep them from thinking about anything for too long. "Every twenty seconds or so, the transmitter would send out some type of sharp noise to keep people like George (father of the main character) from taking unfair advantage of their brains." While Vonnegut's theme is a little different, the details of the story and his social commentary spoke to me on a spiritual level.
I am working through The Celebration of Discipline right now by Richard Foster with some friends and have spent a great deal of time focusing on his chapter on meditation. Speaking on Christian meditation in general he says, "Inward fellowship of this kind transforms the inner personality. We cannot burn the eternal flame of the inner sanctuary and remain the same, for the Divine Fire will consume everything that is impure." I have been encouraged to hear that some of those in my group have experienced the "Divine Fire" through meditation. One friend commented that his meditation on Scripture before prayer had progressed in a way that had lead to some humbling moments before God. Many of us though are experiencing the struggles of the discipline, the challenges presented by all the noise in our lives. The radio, the television, my latest iPod purchase, and my precious cell phone leave little time for quiet reflection.

The genius of the vision in Vonnegut's short story is found in the idea that noise and distraction are so prevalent that they "handicap" us. The wall of sound and distraction is so large in 2008 that I cant imagine what it will be like in 2081 (the setting of his story). I am realizing a process that began in my search to find the discipline to meditate, has also illustrated the spiritual and holistic need for silence in my everyday life (beyond the time set aside for prayer and meditation). I am working to use the 'off' button a little more these days and infuse a healthy dose of quiet into my daily routine...

- Matt Litton