Turning down the volume

The
urge for Lent started for me several weeks ago. I was out on a cross-country
ski with a friend when a small herd of elk ran in front of our path, kicking up
a cloud of snow. They were so close that we could see their breath as they
passed. When they reached the crest of a small hill, they turned collectively
toward us and paused for a moment before running on.

The
moment was extraordinary, but what stayed with me was how noisy I was. When we
saw the elk, instead of standing in struck silence, I started babbling, "Oh
wow. Oh wow. This never happens here. Wow." Finally, my friend--she says she
doesn't remember doing this--said, "Shhh...."

I
returned home with that "Shhh" heavy in my consciousness. It was clear that I
need more of it. My Lenten project is to offer it to myself in various forms.