So He said, "Go forth and stand on the mountain before the Lord." And behold, the Lord was passing by! And a great and strong wind was rending the mountains and breaking in pieces the rocks 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.
After the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of a gentle blowing. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave.
And behold, a voice came to him and said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?
1 Kings 19,11-13
God's first language is silence
(John of the Cross)
God does not speak with words,
does not deal in logic or reasoning.
So we must learn the language of God; God
does not speak English! or Mandarin! or Arabic!
God touches us in the gentle
movements of silence.
We open to God in our empty silence.
In the moment, we listen.
We can't talk back: we do not
speak "gentle wind" - but allow ourselves
to be immersed, filled, absorbed in God's silence.
God touches us in the gentle
movements of silence.
We open to God in our empty silence.
help still our frantic minds, allow us
to unplug the world's strident implant.
Only then can ...
... God touch us in the gentle
movements of silence. Only then can
we open to God in our empty silence.
Suggestions for meditation
Always begin by offering your time to God: something like "My loving God, I love you with my whole heart and above all things. I give you this time when I am reaching out to you" and then a few moments reminding yourself of some of the blessings God has given you - the clear signs of God's love for you. The exact words of the prayer are not important but you do need a firm intention to open yourself to God's input.
Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.
Listen for Jesus' personal message for you.
If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation try Elijah's story above.
Focus on this passage or the meditation slowly a couple of times.
Read the mediation over slowly a couple of times.
Listen for Jesus' personal message for you.
If you would prefer a more authoritative reading to focus your meditation try Elijah's story above.
Focus on this passage or the meditation slowly a couple of times.
What word of phrase jumps out to speak to you?
Why? Try to put yourself into those words. Maybe imagine Jesus speaking, and reply.
Then spend 5, or 10, or 20 minutes with those words, or the word EMPTY or the word GOD.
You need a clear intention to empty your mind of random thoughts (you won't be entirely successful but you need the intention).
You might want to begin the meditation using the breathing exercise I suggest in We have two minds.
After a minute or two focused on your breathing, move your focus to the word/s you have chosen.
Each time your attention moves away from the word/s, push the distraction gently aside and return to the word ("without the intervention of analytical thought" as The Cloud of Unknowing puts it).
You need a clear intention to empty your mind of random thoughts (you won't be entirely successful but you need the intention).
You might want to begin the meditation using the breathing exercise I suggest in We have two minds.
After a minute or two focused on your breathing, move your focus to the word/s you have chosen.
Each time your attention moves away from the word/s, push the distraction gently aside and return to the word ("without the intervention of analytical thought" as The Cloud of Unknowing puts it).
You may need a countdown clock.
At the end thank God, and return to your day.
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