The most ironic part of this article, is the fact that it took me almost a month from the time I first conceived of the idea to the moment I actually had the time and space to sit still and write it. Sometimes life feels out of control. I have often envied people who have a 30-40 year career at the same company, those who married–and are still married to–their high school sweetheart, and others who I deem “stable.”
Despite my truest and best efforts, consistency has not been my story. In spite of the fact that I have always given 100% to all of my jobs, endeavors, vocations, etc., I have never really received the payoff for my study and hard work. This is not a complaint so much as an observation. This article is not about my losses and failures. It’s about finding peace through it all.
Much to the chagrin of my Baptist momma, I do not read the Holy Scriptures as often as I “should.” However, the ones that have impacted me since my youth, continue to shed light on my daily challenges and whole life goals. One such story is from a chapter/book called 1st Kings:
“Enough! Just take my life…” I’m paraphrasing. Also, that section is not the focus but the backstory helps. In a nutshell, someone had been a part of something heinous and was seeking atonement (like forgiveness but more). He was grappling for divine enlightenment. After about 40 days of feeling like shit (I’m inferring), this man needed to “hear” from God–he needed revelation. He desperately needed help and deliverance. So he listened. This is my favorite part:
(New American Standard Bible heavily paraphrased) This guy is ready to end it all and God goes, “Ugh…stand over there and wait.” So the guy stood on some mountain and waited. All of sudden there’s a huge gale, some seriously strong wind that literally shreds part of the mountain. Powerful–yes–but that wasn’t God speaking. I don’t know how much time passed but then there was an earthquake–a motherfu*kin’ earthquake! Next a fire–I don’t know how big it was but I think it was insanely loud and ferocious, like a feral animal. But that wasn’t God “speaking” either.
Then. In midst of all this noise and chaos, there’s a gentle breeze and a whisper. That’s it–a whisper. And that was God speaking to the guy. One takeaway here is that God doesn’t need flash and bravado like the “Great and Powerful Oz” because They speak with gentle–but absolute–authority. Great lesson there. You won’t likely be heard just because you are yelling and screaming when your listeners are already surrounded by a great din. Every day is opposite day!
Moreover, the revelation this man sought didn’t come until all the unbridled clatter had ceased. We can wait around for things to get quiet for us but I suspect we’ll be waiting our whole lives. There will never be a time when life is not pulling us ten different directions and the cocktail of emotions inside us just magically dissipates. It simply won’t happen. We have to be the one to kill the noise. (The fact that Kill the Noise is a great metal song is not lost on me–for better or worse, I’m a metalhead.)
It’s up to me to beat the chaos into submission, to silence the noise around me, to shutter the windows letting in the spiritual smog. It’s up to me to clear my mind, focus in and listen expectantly for the Whisper of God. I hope you hear it, too. Peace to you and those you love.
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