Saturday, September 13, 2008

The Lost Art of Silence

In this high-definition watching, I-Pod listening, cell phone ringing, email updating world, I am afraid we have drown out God. God won't compete with our self-induced noise.

I am reminded of
Elijah in 1 Kings 19:11-13....

"The LORD said, 'Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.' Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, 'What are you doing here, Elijah?;"

God came in a gentle whisper. Isn't that so like our God? Whispers are intimate, personal. I picture leaning in toward the speaker and being close enough to feel their breath on my ear.

"Soon silence will have passed into legend. Man has turned his back on silence. Day after day he invents machines and devices that increase noise and distract humanity from the essence of life, contemplation, meditation... tooting, howling, screeching, booming, crashing, whistling, grinding, and trilling bolster his ego. His anxiety subsides. His inhuman void spreads monstrously like a gray vegetation." ~Jean Arp

Lord, let me be still and quiet enough to hear Your voice. Amen

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