Here are words from the First book of Kings, detailing the story of Elijah finding himself in a challenging situation and seeking God’s guidance. This is how he heard the voice of the Lord.
He said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him, - 1 Kings 19:11-13
We live in a “single-minded” rush, barely taking time to get to know ourselves in God, without external influences. Elijah found that God was not in the spectacular (fire/wind) but in the “whisper.” How much time do we take from our day to be in silence, a moment between lessons, a quiet space at lunch, the car drive home, a moment before bedtime in our room with no distractions? When does the “whisper” from God get through?
Read the poem below by Pablo Neruda and translated by Alastair Reid:
Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda
English version by Alastair Reid (Original Language Spanish)
Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still. For once on the face of the earth let’s not speak in any language, let’s stop for one second, and not move our arms so much. It would be an exotic moment without rush, without engines, we would all be together in a sudden strangeness. Fishermen in the cold sea would not harm whales and the man gathering salt
Those who prepare green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire, victory with no survivors, would put on clean clothes and walk about with their brothers in the shade, doing nothing. What I want should not be confused with total inactivity. Life is what it is about; I want no truck with death.
If we were not so single-minded about keeping our lives moving, and for once could do nothing, perhaps a huge silence might interrupt this sadness of never understanding ourselves and of threatening ourselves with death. Perhaps the earth can teach us as when everything seems dead and later proves to be alive. Now I’ll count up to twelve and you keep quiet and I will go.
Neruda alludes that our “sadness” comes from never stopping to understand ourselves. Never finding that stillness and silence to seek God. Listening for that whisper! The Psalmist says it so beautifully in Psalm 46 verse 10a:
‘Be still, and know that I am God!
The challenge this week is to attempt to take five minutes, each day to sit in total, unplugged silence. Find a quiet spot, at school, home or work to sit in total silence for five minutes daily. No music, no talking. Just listen for God’s “still, small voice.“ In those five minutes, we realise we do not have to “perform” for God. We just need to sit with God. For a teenager, five minutes of silence might feel like an eternity; for an adult, it may feel like a luxury. Do what you can this week, working towards a full five minutes.
Let us pray:
Lord, the world tells us that our value comes from how much we do, but You tell us that our value comes from being Your child. Help us to be still. In the five minutes of silence we offer You this week, quiet our anxious thoughts. Teach us to listen for Your ‘gentle whisper’ and to trust that even when we are doing nothing, You are doing everything. Amen.
http://dlvr.it/TRPLLz
Friday, May 30, 2025
Ascension Day
Yesterday the Church celebrated Ascension Day. I thought I would delve into my creative side, so I wrote the below, based on Luke 24:50-53 and Acts 1:9-11. Use if you want and hopefully my high school English teacher is not too disappointed. Blessings.
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