Does anybody else have trouble keeping a clear mind meditating while sitting still?

I think everyone does. It can be very hard. At first my conscious attention drifted between wandering thoughts and only momentary seconds of clarity, but with time and practice those seconds become minutes and minutes can become hours (if you wanted to meditate that long). The key is to not ever become discouraged. When you realized your mind has wandered, simply gently bring it back to awareness in the moment and don't be upset about it.

Yes, but sometimes meditate on the things causing a distraction - for example, traffic, think about the people in the cars, their lives, how God has been kind to them , &c

I do understand why the budhists make a loud sound in their temples. Because the moment the outer world falls silent your own thoughs can be heard...and ugh there are many!

So putting on some back ground sound can help allot.

yea. I often pray out loud, because when I meditate silently my mind tends to wander.

Every body has it in the beginning but with practice it can be achieved.Mind should never be forced for any thing but slowly persuaded for the purpose you want it to be.