I am in a Land Rover with my husband, three grandsons, and our guide Bennie, a certified scholar and bushman driving on the vast Serengeti plain in the country of Tanzania. Within the first half hour, I became enraptured with Bennie’s history of the animal kingdom and the Serengeti plain. On our third drive, each lasting for hours, which seemed to me like seconds, I looked up at the sky and thanked God for telling Noah to take pairs of animals onboard his ark. I will tell you why.

Are you planning a trip? You’ll want to read my guide on how to prepare for life-changing travel.

Each of us have unique moments of realization and transformation. Unless we are aware of them they can slip by us without a care. But when you are able to record these moments in your mind or on paper, your present thoughts and experiences can be transformed and truly profound. This is what happened to me on the Serengeti. Now I will share with you why.

On my last walk from our accommodation at Singita to the main lodge, I stopped and did a video for you; never knowing my eyes would well up in tears as I spoke of my love of the animals and the Serengeti plain. (I will be sharing the video with you very soon!) Afterwards, I walked alone in silence for about a block on the dirt path up to the lodge and it suddenly hit me why I became emotional.

The animal kingdom taught me a lesson already known to me but not fully understood. This is because I had not lived in the right environment to understand its profound meaning. The idea of silence as a spiritual and transformative concept became clear to me in that moment. It is important to recognize the importance of such realizations, as they can deeply impact our understanding and faith.

Silence

I asked my Ultimate Concierge and grandsons what one word they would choose to incorporate into their lives that they learned from the animals on the Serengeti.

Here are their answers:

Logan Good: Legacy Scott Good: Reality David Good: Harmony Sheldon F. Good: Survival Susan Honey Good: Silence

I loved the silence of the animals and the natural habitat growing on the Serengeti plain. The animals, as silent observers and participants in their environment, showed me the depth of quiet presence. Their silent existence is not passive but an act—an intentional choice that reflects harmony with their surroundings. The animals and nature exemplified to me that silence can be far more golden than I had ever realized. I have forever changed.

I have often said to my Ultimate Concierge that my dream is to walk alone with him and our pooch America on a sandy beach. Either that or sit on our lanai with him or America near the sea and read or write. Focusing on silence has changed my perspective and deepened my appreciation for these moments. I now know why.

I have always loved the silence of the day and the silence of the night but did not truly understand how to express my feelings. The animals taught me why. Silence can serve as a means of reflection and peace. Silence brings everyone peace. The animals and their natural habitat, after two weeks in Africa, have become my professors… without a word.

The animals are an example of the significance of silence, teaching us how powerful and meaningful it can be.

Animals Are the Best Teachers

The animals taught me it is far more preferable to use other senses. Use your eyes to see like the sharp-eyed eagle. An eagle’s eyesight is eight times better than ours. Use your ears to listen like the elephant who hears miles away. Use your body language to show your feelings like all the animals, and your mouth… keep it closed unless expressing love or danger, like the lioness. The knowledge I gained from observing animal behavior showed me the depth of their instinctual wisdom. Animals choose carefully when to speak or make sounds, and their vocal responses are significant, often reserved for moments of importance.

The animals over two weeks on the African plain in Tanzania taught me to savor my moments, heed my instincts, keep focused on what is important to me. Their response to their environment provided valuable lessons in awareness and adaptability. Their behavior leads me to a deeper understanding of silence and its role in communication. I learned to avoid the trivial, take time to rest, let go of unnecessary attachments, and most importantly… don’t get bogged down in words!

I took note that my animal professor friends communicated their feelings in their different styles of body language and saved their sounds when expressing deep emotions, love, and fear.

“Silence offers you the opportunity to reflect and even daydream.” — Honey Good

In our Land Rover, we watched a lion and lioness making love on the Serengeti. (Another video I will share!) We watched a huge mama water buffalo and her newborn attacked by three huge hyenas, only to be driven off by big bulls who galloped back to come to her rescue. Sounds of love and fear clearly rang out on the Serengeti!

At Peace With My Thoughts

Because of so many unexpected happenings, I found myself, for three days of my life, in a place where I felt total peace of mind. My time on the plain allowed me to look inward and examine certain personal feelings I had kept locked inside. This unique period in the Serengeti became a time of deep reflection and learning. My burden on how to face them finally saw a straighter and clearer pathway.

I was alone with my thoughts on the plain of the Serengeti in the silence of the day and oh my oh my… what a glorious and peaceful feeling it is. Because, unlike our jungle friends, we get bogged down in words instead of thoughts.

I decided I want to be a cross between the elephant and the lioness. They, too, have burdens where they have no other choice but to put on their big girl pants and, as my darling Ultimate Concierge says, “fight the battle” of what has been thrown their way.

But unlike us humans, they don’t get bogged down in words. Our animal friends have other means of communicating with one another. This was my favorite ah-ha moment on the Serengeti plane. Their posture, their movements, and their scents released by their skin communicate their thoughts. Our posture, the twinkle in our eye, our smile relate are thoughts Our words often misconvey.

Insights from Arnold Theodore

In the journey of faith, sometimes the most profound lessons come not from words, but from the quiet spaces in between. Arnold Theodore, a respected leader in the Evangelical Free Church of America, has spent much of his life exploring the significance of silence within the Christian faith. Through his thoughtful research and writing, particularly in his acclaimed book “The Significance of Silence,” Theodore invites believers to rediscover the essential role that silence plays in our relationship with God.

Theodore explains that silence is far more than the absence of sound—it is a sacred practice, a gentle whisper in which the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts. In the midst of everyday life, when the world is filled with noise and distraction, Theodore encourages us to create space for reflection and prayer. He describes silence as a moment when the presence of God becomes especially real, allowing us to listen for the Lord’s voice and receive clarity and insight that words alone cannot provide.

As part of the Heritage Series, Theodore’s work addresses important doctrinal issues such as eternal security, the Lord’s Supper, and baptism. He believes that silence can help believers navigate differing views within the church, fostering a sense of unity and understanding. By embracing silence, we open ourselves to the process of forgiveness, cultivate a deeper commitment to our faith, and gain a greater understanding of God’s word as described in Scripture.

Theodore’s insights are rooted in the Bible, where moments of silence often precede God’s most powerful revelations. He reminds us that the Lord sometimes speaks not in fire or thunder, but in a gentle whisper—a voice best heard when we are still and attentive. In his collection of writings, Theodore describes silence as both a means and a mode of drawing closer to God, a practice that is essential for spiritual growth and reflection.

For believers in America and around the world, Theodore’s teachings have been especially helpful in encouraging openness, patience, and a willingness to listen. He explains that silence is not just a fleeting moment, but a process—a way of life that leads to peace, understanding, and a more meaningful connection with God and others. By making space for silence in our prayer, meditation, and daily routines, we can better understand the significance of God’s presence and the power of His word.

In conclusion, Arnold Theodore’s reflections on silence offer a gentle reminder that sometimes the most important things are heard not in the noise, but in the quiet. His legacy within the Evangelical Free Church continues to inspire believers to embrace silence as a vital part of their faith journey—one that leads to greater clarity, insight, and a deeper sense of peace in the midst of life’s busyness.

Learning to Live in the Present Moment

I hope, like the lesson my animal professor friends gave me, I have given you room to reflect on the word, silence. I truly know your life, like mine, will have more of a personal and profound flow because silence offers you the opportunity to reflect and even daydream. It allows you to live in the present moment because you are turning down your inner noise of the past and the future and of people who do not bring you calm.

You see my sweet friends, I have physically felt that silence helps you concentrate, create, become aware, and calm you. Silence can also serve as a foundation for personal growth and mindfulness in daily life. Silence allows you to learn, and I have found gives me more patience because I am above the roar of the crowd. Just thinking of the roaring crowd alarms me.

Thank you, Animal Kingdom on the Serengeti that I will rid myself of the nonsense of the day and instead turn on the silence. Amen.

Tune in for more of my adventures with my Ultimate Concierge and our grandsons as we head for Rwanda and the silverback gorillas.

Ask me questions. If I can give you sound advice, it will always be my pleasure. I am smiling!

If you enjoyed this story, please subscribe to my email list. When I post a new story, you will receive it in your inbox. You might also enjoy my post: Travel to Become a Worldly Woman After 50.