I want a room in my house like a Japanese washitsu. Warm wood. Asian simplicity. Straight lines. Natural light. Rice papered windows open to the trees, breezes and birdsongs. A bamboo plant or a vase with simple flowers. No phones. No computers or laptops. No iPods or radios. No television.That probably says more about the state of my soul than anything else. Too much clamor. Too many agendas.
I need less noise. Fewer agendas. I need more rest. In God. And more listening. To God.
(Image: leaves of a bamboo plant; mine)
Comments
There is a house that has appeared many times in my dreams: small, very quiet and nearly empty, simple in design, and painted white inside; or, if not white, some very pale color that mimics white. Yet, when the sun shines in, the light isn't harsh but warm.
In reality, my house is colorful, cluttered, and full of distraction. A room like you described is very tempting--for daydreaming, for praying, for separating oneself from all the stuff.
beth, while i think soul noise is common to many, you and i share something in common: two little vikings, heh. in my case, i must be careful not to load too many competing things into my life (including film and television and internet -- things i really REALLY enjoy) lest i start to consider my children soul noise, which is so wrong and far from the truth. when i started to feel the need for a room like the one above, i realized i've loaded too much in and must cut back. ultimately, however, all that stuff crowds out God's voice - and i love (my kids and others) so much better when i'm resting in him. in the end, my longing is more for a soul like that room than the room itself.