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I teach a course on world religions. In one of the units of the course on Eastern mysticism I have all of my students meditate. For almost every student this is their first time. Almost to a person, they feel frustrated by the intrusions of random thoughts and distractions. Think about it. When is the last time you were in silence? Conversations, music, reading, etc. are all good things in there place, but meditation requires putting these things aside (yes, even you iPod).
It takes practice to move into the experience of open mental silence. Once at this place of tranquility and openness, now and then you can have a "random" thought emerge into your space. I think it is sometimes a mistake try to put this thought aside. There is something out there beyond our never ending self absorbed living waiting for us to take a step away from the rat race of the physical senses and enter into silence. Once there, we are in a place to hear from that presence beyond (for me as a Christian this is God). In this sense, this "intrusion" may be the message.
The other thing I find is often these students new to meditation feel they have failed if they entered silence but left without hearing a message (from God for the Christian). I ask them to imagine themselves as a small child sitting in the arms of a loving parent. You are successful in your meditation if you arrive at this place. There - there is no need for words (spoken or otherwise). Hear his heartbeat. Feel the warmth. Experience the security and peace of true intimacy.
Intimacy is the gift. The healing. The wholeness.
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