In the quiet

It's amazing how You show up
          in the quiet

How you whisper ever so gently
Nudge us in a new direction
Point us back toward you
Realign our hearts and minds
Remind us that You are the center

All in the quiet

It's not that Your presence only lingers there. Heavens no, Your presence lingers everywhere and more.

But we...us small, sinful, forgetful, mere human beings...We can't hear you. So often, we can't see you. Easily distracted does not even begin to describe it. As humans, we are inevitably

flawed

     busy

          caught up

               rushing

                     always moving

                          ever forgetful

                               constantly distracted

                                    stuck in monotony

                                         trapped in chaos

                                              obsessed with doing

Instead of content with simply being. Resting in your presence. Waiting on You. Eyes open to see. Ears ready to hear. Heart eager to receive.

No

We are too distracted by the cares of this world. To notice You. Your presence. Your gorgeous sunset. Your whisper in the wind.

The way You wrap Your arms around us and pull us in close. Parent us with love and concern. Lead us with guidance as our Shepard. Carry us with Your strength. Resurrect us with Your unique quality to save. Redeem. Bring what was once dead back to life.

Many of us do not believe in Your miracles. Yet, they are everywhere. We are simply too busy to notice them.

We often say we can't here You. We don't know what You want us to do. Which path You created us to take. Where You are in all of this. Why You left us.

But how wrong we are. How quick we are to doubt You. You, in all Your power. Why do we constantly doubt you? For You are always there. Often as faint as a whisper. Or as easily missable as a rush of wind in our hair.

But in the quiet...
Yes, in the quiet...
We become able to see and hear.

When we let go of the world and its hectic dysfunction, even for just a moment, we are able to notice, grasp on to and fully experience You.

We once had the privilege of living every moment in such a peaceful place. An environment conducive to feeling Your presence and hearing Your voice.

Eden

I can only imagine how serene, fulfilling and perfect life must have been there. How close to You Adam and Eve must have felt, in each and every moment.

But then, sin entered the picture. And because we didn't have the strength to ignore Satan then, there in the garden, we now have to work that much harder to ignore him here in this world. And he is everywhere. Especially in the business and chaos of obligations and responsibilities. I am convinced that he lurks in those corners of our lives more than anywhere else. To distract us and pull us away from You.

But we must work harder. And find the quiet. So that we may once again, find You. Hear You whisper. Feel You comfort us. See Your miracles. And turn toward You with immovable faith. And once again, make You the center.

We must
     find the quiet,
          and we must
               harness that quiet.

So that we may listen, hear, see, feel and BELIEVE.

Today, in the quiet, I finally heard Your whisper. Your beautiful whisper spoke directly to me and addressed me by name. And I, I heard it.

And tonight, I pray that You give me the dedication and the wisdom to find the quiet and hear Your voice, when I am surrounded by noise.