Last Sunday we visited Universal Studios with our son and two of our grandsons. It was a treat to spend the day with them, and we thought it would be a pleasant distraction from the woes of the world. We thought perhaps because of the economy, there would be fewer people and the lines would be short.
Wrong! It was packed. It was orderly, but so crowded that we could barely walk without bumping into people. Everyone else within a 3000 mile radius must have had the same idea. And many of them were from China. I guess their economy is thriving. The announcements over the loudspeaker were spoken in both English and Mandarin Chinese.
We arrived around 10:00 am and by noon we were dragging. By the time we left in the afternoon, Ron and I swore we would never come back. And the reason? It was not the crowds. It was the deafening noise. Every inch of Universal Studios had video screens and loudspeakers pumping out a constant stream of noise. The music would overlap from one section to another, with clashing rhythms and jarring drum beats. There was not even a respite in the bathrooms. Everything was impossibly loud and we felt like we were beaten down, bit by bit, note by discordant note. By the time we left, we could barely speak, desperately craving peace and quiet.
“The Guides” say that this is the most complex time in human history. It is a technological masterpiece, with greater and more complex ways to communicate. However, as we fill our space with more and more distractions, it takes us further from the inner peace that we so deeply crave. The serenity of our soul seems far removed.
Ron was given the gift of the DVD series, “Planet Earth,” for his birthday. We hunkered down and watched exquisite images of parts of the earth that are untouched by civilization, as seen through the amazing technology of time lapse cameras and special helicopters. The beauty of Divine creation calmed our nerves and restored our equilibrium.
If you live in a city like Los Angeles as we do, I guess it takes technology to show us the peace and majesty of our extraordinary earth. An oxymoron indeed!
Because there are more distractions in life than ever, it seems even more important to take time to meditate or to do some kind of spiritual practice. Do you meditate? Be sure to answer the question in this month’s poll.
Scolastico Musings 
silence is and has always been my favorite sound.
My daughter was telling me the other day that some of her friends are getting deaf as they listen to their music using extremely loud I-Pods. I wonder what’s happening to the next generation… The noise is one of the worst pollutants we encounter. Thanks to the Guides for their continue reminding that nothing can damage our true selves… maybe our bodies.
I am so very glad you began a blog – and proud of you too! I know – your son designed it – but you’re writing in it! What a gift to us to be able to have this space together outside our appointments and “meet” and “see” likeminded others.
God bless! Amy
I think that having “the guides” in my life is one of the true graces that have come to me. I have been healed over and over by their wisdom, their extreme kindess, their love for me. I have also felt that they were the only ones who could slap me in the face and I would listen and change. I haven’t always wanted to hear the truth, but in the end I became an advocate of the truth. When I’m out of balance and need to be tapped onto center like a ship at sea that’s captain’s fallen asleep at the helm, I’ve found the guides to be the ones who could tap just enough to wake me up. I feel so fortunate to be able to have the guides. A