Do You Hear What I Hear?

I am sitting on the bench outside of the store I manage and I am bombarded by foreign sounds that are loud and annoying. The sound of a car driving by that squeals for some reason I don't know. Eighteen wheelers and their rumbling engines, construction workers driving and using all manner ofequiptment. Even the bells and whistles of a train that is passing through. The clicks of a car just turned off and the neverending beeps of a convinent store. Inside is no better, I hear the hum of the ice machine making ice, the clatter when a customer dispenses ice to their cups. The register beeps and blips. And of course the constant stream of babble from people who think I must know all that's going on in this town and in the world.

I long for peace and quiet, the sounds of animals roaming a forest and growing trees. The music of a stream as it makes its way to wherever it's going. The sky rumbling with a coming storm, the wind rattling fall leaves, or a gentle rain pattering the ground. I long for a simpler life, with less running around like a chicken with my head cut off. Where working hard actually means something more than a paycheck that might get me and my family through the next two weeks. I don't want to be rich, just comfortable. Comfortable with myself, my life, and happy with all that God has given me. This is not to say that I am unhappy now. I guess I am just frustrated. There is a saying that I have heard on more than one occasion. "God never gives us more than we can handle. I just wish he didn't trust me so much." I find this very fitting right now. At some point in my life, I would like the peace of mind to know that all will be well. That I don't have to stress about who is going to call in sick, or who needs a raise, or vacation. Or whether I can get my kids the new shoes they need and the things they want for their birthday or Christmas. Along with all of that, I just want to be surrounded by quiet. No traffic, no beeps, or hums, and most definitely no constant babble from mostly idiots who think they are the first person to ever crack a joke about my name.