Wednesday, February 10 - Ash Wednesday

“The Lord said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by. Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart 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. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” (1st Kings 19:11-12)

Two Pilgrims Learning From Elijah 
         (1st Kings 19:11-12)

Circling each other, telling their stories, 
Feigning attention to likes and un-likes; 
Noting what would promote the “Yikes”
of difference or the sameness of glories. 
This is not a deep listening; but filtering, 
letting in only those of which ego’s wants 
to stay in the ruts of those familiar haunts, 
keeping out the soul’s urgent whisperings. 
Prayer begins not with words but listening, 
not to the whirlwind, earthquakes, or fires 
but in the sheer silence allowing not liars 
to impress with drama images glistening. 
Breathing deeply in the silence resting, 
trusts that God’s spirit in both is nesting.

The Rev. Tom Wilson+