Not silent God

… I am the living and true witness of truth, and the speaking and not-being-silent God

                     Hildegard of Bingen

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Once an old Jewish man,

who everyday would wander down to the “wailing wall” to pray

and leave a written plea in the cracks between the stones,

was asked what it was like to participate in that daily practice.

 

The man, who for decades had fervently gone to that sacred place

and prayer for peace answered simply,

 

“It is like talking to a wall.”

 

There are times when it feels as if God is silent.

We pray for peace.  Silence.

We pray for loved ones who are ill. Silence.

We pray for love. Silence.

We pray that people will engage their minds and emerge from a cult like mentality.

Silence.

 

Wars still rage.

Loved ones still die.

Love remains elusive.

People still refuse to get vaccinated, and still cheer the abuse of power.

 

But we have a not-being-silent God.

 

The Sacred does speak!

Indeed the Sacred rejoices over us with singing (Zephaniah 3:17).

 

God is always speaking

God spoke and order came out of chaos.

God spoke and the light came.

God spoke and beauty was born. 

 

The fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the beasts of the field,

and you, and me.

 

God spoke and Love walked among us.

And God speaks still.

 

Sometimes it is with words of joy and peace,

as God speaks through the rising sun,

and the fresh fallen snow on the peaks,

and the lone eagle in flight.

 

Sometimes it is with words that pierce and trouble,

as God speaks through the poor,

the hungry, the homeless.

As God speaks through desperate immigrants,

through those assailed by war,

and stricken by disease.

 

God speaks.

Sometimes God shouts!

 

Take care of the planet!

Take care of one another!

Feed the poor.

Welcome the stranger.

Comfort the mourner.

Put down your guns.

Get vaccinated!

 

Love me (God)!

Love your neighbor!

And don’t forget to take care of yourself in the process.

 

God is never silent.

Its just that sometimes we stop listening!

(or we allow other voices to drown out the voice of love).

 

So let us listen!

Let us hear what love is telling us, and live accordingly.