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“Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces 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; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.” I Kings 19:11-13 NRSV

It’s rare that I experience silence. You’d think I would, with my children long since grown and on their own. Instead, at home something is always buzzing, beeping, or purring. Fans whirl, an ice cube maker grinds, the furnace kicks in or the air conditioner does. In the background is traffic noise from a busy interstate, along with frequent sirens. Alexa dings with notifications, as do my tablet and phone.

I didn’t know how much I needed silence, until one vacation I pulled over at a rest spot in Superior National Forest. For a time there were no vehicles driving past. Just me in the silence, cushioned by sound absorbing trees. The sound of silence spoke to my heart, healing something deep inside me

No wonder  the *”sound of sheer silence” caught Elijah’s attention.On the run from Jezebel, he looks for safety in a cave, far away from those intent on taking his life. Feeling friendless, alone and abandoned, Elijah doesn’t see options in his life. He is stuck, lonely and afraid. Yet, God meets him in that place of vulnerability, where yesterday’s decisions are questioned and the future uncertain. Asking, “Why are you here, Elijah?”

In that sacred silence, God hovers over him, whispers his name, quiets his spirit, touches his wounds, plants seeds of possibility and seeds of hope. Elijah learns he is not the only one left in Israel who is faithful to God. There are others waiting for his leadership. Hiding out in a cave is not an answer. He is sent back into the world to fulfill his purpose and his calling.

Like Elijah, there are times we need to retreat, take stock of our lives, pause to let God heal our broken dreams, our griefs, our losses and our missed opportunities.   Then return to our calling as God’s children sent into the world.  To spread the love of God in whatever form  is right for us.

*The “sound of sheer silence, is  interpreted in other versions of the Bible as “A gentle breeze, whisper of a voice, still small voice, gentle blowing, or voice of light stillness.”