Loud People in Quiet Places
To me, coffeehouses are meant to be sacred places. A place of semi-quiet solitude. A place where friends can gather to discuss world affairs, philosophy, theology, politics. A place where you can simply put on your headphones and get lost in a book while enjoying a warm cup of strong coffee. There are some unwritten rules that I believe most coffeehouse visitors understand. The first is that if you are talking loud enough that people two tables over can hear you, it’s time to quiet down.
This morning I was given the opportunity to retreat for a bit to work on a sermon. I found myself at one of my favorite local coffeehouses. The coffee is hot and tasty. The wi-fi is quick and free. But, the lady on the opposite side of the shop is talking so loudly that I have an awkward inability to concentrate. As I write, some eccentric fellow with a dog is allowing his dog to bark loudly. It’s not the dogs fault…but why would the owner feel he should bring his dog to the coffeehouse (it’s not a seeing-eye-dog)? Why does this woman feel the need to broadcast her daily activities to everyone within a quarter-mile? Is it a desire to have attention focused on you? Is it a desire to let everyone know how important you are?
Imagine my relief when the man with the dog and the lady with the loud voice made their exits at the same time.
All of this has simply reminded me of how difficult it is to find true quiet in todays world. Technology is great…but it can be a roadblock to finding quiet peace. I know that all of us need to find some solitude from time to time…to escape the loud, busy world in which we live. It’s quiet now, if only for a moment. And I plan to enjoy it.