The Sound of Silence
“After the fire, there was a soft whisper.”
A soft whisper. A still small voice. The “sound” of silence. How and where Elijah experienced God after his battle with the prophets of Baal and close escape from the queen.
As I read these words in yesterday’s Old Testament reading, my mind went to “The Hut,” a small, single room cabin I used to visit for monthly overnight retreats. It’s on the property of a retreat center in Three Rivers, Michigan called The Hermitage. No electricity, no indoor plumbing, just a wood stove to ward off the winter chill. The Hut stands by itself in the woods, about a half-mile from the main retreat complex.
After reading the lectionary yesterday, for “some reason” my mind pictured The Hut and I wrote something about The Hut in my journal. When I checked my Facebook page a little later, I found a message from a friend in Kalamazoo telling me that Gene Herr had died the previous day. Gene and his wife Mary were the founders of The Hermitage. Gene used to be my spiritual director, and both Gene and Mary conducted Sharon’s and my wedding ceremony.
Gene was a gentle soul. He was also a Mennonite. Mennonites tend to be active people, very practical. Gene and Mary, after many years of being pastors and denominational staff, felt the call to help lead their denomination to that place of stillness which Elijah experienced. They enlisted the help of a friend with Amish roots to reconstruct an old barn into a retreat house (photo on right). The retreat center became a place for thousands of people from many denominations to draw apart and encounter God. (Gene’s obituary states that there will be both a Mennonite memorial service as well as a Catholic funeral mass, which is reflective of Gene and Mary’s ecumenical spirit.)
After many years of not thinking about it, the picture of The Hut has surfaced often in my meditation lately. Sharon and I will be spending a few days at Fowler’s Vrede Prayer Cabin next week where we hope to hear the “sound” of silence, the soft whisper of our Creator and Lord.
January 4, 2012 at 7:49 pm
I find it amazing that you wrote about the sound of silence and voice of God as a gentle whisper. What it meant to me is to listen closely for that whisper from God. Today had an amazing experience at work. A boy who has walked with turned feet and great pain for years is going to get braces. The orthotist, brace fabricator , can help him to walk with less pain. His Mom has been very fearful and reluctant of braces. I was able to find the words with Gods whisper and guidance to have her give braces ” that one more chance”. Thank you Jesus for your guidance.
January 5, 2012 at 1:30 pm
“Be still and know that I am God.” I’m so glad that I don’t have to play God in my life anymore. My mind was always so over-anyliticle, always trying to figure out how I could make ammends for the wrongs I had done all by myself. Constantly worried over my children’s health and how I could fix things. Always obsessed with my busy thoughts. That Scripture is one of my life verses. Busy, hurry and worry were the 3 mantras of my way of life. Stress ruled my world.No more. I am very happy to be me and not God. I heard that still, small voice just 2 weeks ago. God told me, out of the blue, “Go. I do not condemn you.” WOW! If I was in my old, busy thinking, I would never have heard those words So glad to hear that you and Sharon will be at a retreat where you can be still and unhurried.