February 16, 2015

1 Kings 9:11-13

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 that said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?

Silent Voice

Wrapped in a mantle

of silence the prophet

stands humble to hear

the Silent Voice, Being

speaking to inmost being

where truth is known

and the heart hears

what it needs to live

and love, to move and act

knowing for what it is sent.

Wind and fire, storm and

thunder, trembling earth

shake our certainties,

reminding once more

we are for a time only

in this place before we

pass, but for all their fury

these do not close our

mouths and turn us inward

to hear the Voice who

spoke us into being.

In blessed silence

we hear you beyond the

world’s clamor and storm’s

fearsome roar, Deep calling

to deep reminding us that

you want us to hear and

know … you, knowing, too,

the sweet tears that come

only when soul’s depth

is touched.

And these tears?

Joy, each the joy

of knowing you 

want me … that I am 

not and never alone, 

that you who speak 

in silence hunger

to be known by me, 

needing me, too,

for holy purpose

known only in silence

where you speak, sending

me­--uncertain, halting,

wounded and longing--

back into the clamor …

knowing you,

O, Silent Voice,

the Love who speaks

as I lie in the silent darkness.

Pr. David L. Miller