What does silence sound like?

     There is an art piece that is famous called "The Scream".  I don't know who painted it or when.  I know that the image of that entity screaming remains a part of my memory.  Since it's an art piece, the scream is silent...at least to me.  There are lots of pictures that evoke feelings and thoughts about silence.  Quiet mountain meadows, sunrises, moon rises, children sleeping, and my garden not doing anything!  Silence sounds like nothing and yet encompasses everything.  Some people speak so loudly with their actions and words that we can't hear them above the emptiness and silence contained in what they are saying.  Silence was the last breath being exhaled by Jesus on the cross.  It was the last breath of several people who I've watched breath their last.  Silence engulfed not only them but the whole world around them.  Yet, my soul screamed silently for the loss.  As I contemplate Jesus on the cross an emptiness of feeling exhales from my body.  I know he rises on the third day.  I know the story isn't over.  I know that victory is being won.  Yet, in my grief, there is a silence that overtakes my soul and rests on me like a heavy boulder.  Silence can be very heavy.
     Some people look at silence as the absence of sound.  They are correct.  As a parent we sit back and relax as our children play.  We become acutely aware of something being amiss when there is silence.  Silence in this situation bears investigation.  Silence strikes us first in the negative of something is wrong and lastly the positive of their finally gone to sleep for that much needed nap.  Silence comes upon us in so many different ways.  We have been desensitized to the "cry" of the world by the silence of mankind.  Looking the other way we don't become involved.  Not only do we treat our world as being unable to hear; but we also are silent in our response.  We do not see and do not hear.  This leaves us as silent Christians, if there can be such a thing.  Can there?  Can we sit by and choose to not hear the silence of genocide?  Can we drive by the silence of the homeless on the street?  Can we avoid the beggar who just might be an angel that we are to attend to sent silently to see if we would do just that?  Silence can be very dangerous.
     Jeremiah was told by God to stop praying for the Israelites as they were a lost cause.  Jeremiah responded, "I cannot not pray for them!" and disobeyed God who told him to remain silent.  Where is the balance?  What are we to do as Christians?  Are we to remain silent and go as a lamb to the slaughter as Jesus did?  Are we to stand up like Sampson and push the pillars of the temple aside to make a final statement for God?  Do we sit silently braiding a whip while outside the temple knowing what we are to do?  Jesus did.  He took that whip and cleared the temple.  Within our self contained silent world do we settle for seeing but not seeing, hearing but not hearing, feeling but not feeling or being silent while the world cries out?  All that it takes for evil to triumph is for good men and women and children to do nothing.  Be silent if you will.  It won't make a sound.  At least it won't make a sound externally.  Don't silence that small still voice that urges you to stand up, do something and proclaim the truth and power of the Gospel that can save men's souls from hell. 
     Silence is really loud.