When the news reaches a fever-pitch, as it has done over the past few days, it's a good time to return to a deeper silence. It does help to disengage from the news temporarily, trusting that whatever you need to know, you will know, when it's time to know it. I was reminded of this yesterday morning as I peaked at the news on my phone and a counter phrase came into my mind, "After the wind...after the earthquake....after the fire came a still small voice". This is the Bible story of Elijah's encounter with God in the wilderness cave.
The back story deals with Elijah's role as a prophet and his struggle to free the Hebrew people from false gods imposed on the country by the King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. Following a stunning victory by Elijah, which led to great bloodshed, Jezebel vows to have Elijah killed. The prophet is suddenly seized by fear for his life and frantically runs to the mountains to hide. There he is devastated by self blame and failure. But an angel appears who brings food and drink and, acknowledging his lack of strength, tells him to rest. He is able then, to travel further into the wilderness until he comes to the sacred mountain and a meeting with God.
Here is the passage (I Kings 19: 11-13): ...And a great and mighty wind tore into the mountains and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake there was a fire but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire came a still small voice. 13When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”…
There are, of course, different levels to the story. From the perspective of the still point of the Pandemic world, we return to the sacred, our inner cave of reflection, beyond 'wind', and 'earthquakes' and 'fires', to a still small voice.
In his encounter, Elijah is told to "return the way that you came". He must re-enter the world, but he is given a new plan and a renewed spirit. (Susan Nettleton)