Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Beach Noise

The beach is a very noisy place.  At least inhabited ones are.  In addition to the never ending crash of the surf, you have birds squawking and cicadas screaming out their harsh night calls.  I like these sounds.  They are God's instruments playing together in His never-ending symphony (I've been reading too much Pat Conroy).

The sounds I despise are the hundreds of air conditioners going around the clock in the August heat on a Southern island.  I also hate the cars going by on the main highway a few streets over.

With all the noises outside, you would think people would turn off all unnecessary electric and electronic disturbances.  But no, on my beach walk this morning I estimate that around ninety percent of people I passed walking or jogging were talking on their cell phones or listening to their I-pods.  You'd think people would get tired of so much noise and want to listen to nature's songs instead, but they don't.  And  I don't understand it.

5 comments:

laurel said...

When I was running (OK, walking) on the beach yesterday, I took my ipod, but found myself turning it off. It just seemed like a waste to be running at the beach and not taking advantage of listening to it's sounds.

laurel said...

Oops...bad english. "listening to ITS sounds"

Anonymous said...

I totally agree, Debbie. It baffles me, too, when I'm out somewhere beautiful, and all around people's phones are ringing, they're texting, they're talking. There are headphones on heads. It's almost scary to me how people are losing touch with the real things that God created. The soul is going to shrivel up! Like you, I love the sound of nature, of just listening to what God put in play. Of paying attention...

Ah. I hope you're having a lovely vacation, Debbie!

Susan

Tyler Bailey said...

I think the beach is one of the best places to go if you want to relax. I find the sounds of the beach to be very calming if you listen to it on cd. It's a great way to go to sleep!

laurel said...

Did you catch the irony of Tyler's comment? Listening to the sounds of the beach on CD? :)