January 28, 2026
You know me. I’m a bona fide child of the 70’s and 80’s—a proud Gen-X’er who rocked parachute pants, pinned jeans, and those wild oversized paisley shirts. And, yep, for a hot minute in ‘88, I sported a permed mullet, convinced I was just as good-looking as Ian Ziering and George Michael. (I was such a “ladies’ man”—or so I thought. Hahaha!)
Like all my friends, I loved 80’s music (still do, if we’re being honest): hair metal, new wave, punk rock, American pop—you name it, I cranked it. “Turn Up the Radio,” right? But sometimes, you’ve gotta admit, a little peace and quiet does wonders. Case in point: tonight.
After Confirmation wrapped up, I made my way out to the car. Once inside, I let the engine warm up and flicked on the radio to 93.1 KATO Hits. At first, I wasn’t even paying attention to what was coming through the speakers. But then—just as I turned the corner—the WORST SONG of all time started up. And all I could think was, gag me with a spoon! That tune needs to stay locked away in the vault. It was Michael Sembello’s one and only hit, made (unfortunately) famous by a movie I’ve never cared for.
Michael Sembello, you ask? Yeah, I didn’t know his name either. But trust me, you know the song: “Maniac,” from the 1983 cult classic, “Flashdance.”
“She’s a maniac, maniac on the floor. And she’s dancing like she’s never danced before…” Ugh! Like a true maniac, my left index finger smacked that mute button on the steering column faster than you could say “uncle.” And, I’ll be honest, I still hadn’t planned on what I was going to write tonight—until that moment. LOL.
Tonight, I’m grateful for life’s mute buttons. Sometimes, when the noise gets to be too much, the sound of silence is exactly what you need. Solomon had it right when he said,
“Better is a handful of quietness than two hands full of toil and a striving after wind”
There are times when peace and quiet is just what the doctor ordered. I love blasting my favorite songs, but there are these golden moments—when I’m home alone, my wife’s out with her friends, the dogs are sleeping, and the TV’s off—where peace in the quiet settles everything down. It’s good for the heart.
Thank you, Father God, for giving us the wisdom to hit mute and find calm for our souls. In a world overflowing with noise, remind us that peace amid the quiet is where we find rest.