The Uncomfortable Silence of the Air Purifier When It's Off & Our Need for God's Grace

“From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace”. John 1:16 NABRE

I have an air purifier device in my bedroom. It makes a quiet hum. I keep it on 24/7, except for if I want to use both my lamp and my computer charger at the same time. Then I have to unplug the air purifier to free up the electrical outlet.

When the air purifier is off, I hear total silence. The ordinary hum of the air purifier that goes unnoticed is now noticed in its absence. The silence is absolute.

God’s grace can go unnoticed like the hum of the air purifier. Maybe we’re so used to it that it goes unnoticed. But if we choose to listen, we hear it in it’s gentleness. Like our Lord speaking in whispers. Like God speaking to Samuel (1 Samuel 3).

The silence of the off air purifier is unsettling. Now that I’m accustomed to a certain air quality, thanks to the air purifier, I’m uncomfortably aware that the air around me is NOT undergoing purification. I miss the sweet purification!

Mortal sin “results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace.” CCC 1861

It pleases me to turn back on the air purifier and know that it’s immediately at work again. Working against the dustiness lying in wait.

“Even a clean and unoccupied room gathers dust; return after a week and you will see that it needs dusting again!" —St. Padre Pio on confession.