God of the Whisper

Where do you encounter God?  When in your daily routine do you come into the presence of God?

Some encounter God through the beauty of nature, silently admiring majestic mountains or a beautiful sunset.  Others experience God’s presence when they contemplate with gratitude the wonders of creation or the mystery of life.  As Catholics, we have a definite encounter with God at the Eucharist where we gather to hear his Word and receive the body and blood of his Son.

Each one of us encounters God in various ways, and this encounter depends greatly on our personal disposition and preparedness.  God certainly wants to be found, it is our task to seek him.  God is not playing hide-and-go-seek, He is always in our midst, but we have to tune into Him.  This process is much like listening to the radio.  Radio waves are invisible, we cannot see them, yet they are present.  We need a radio tuned to the right frequency for us to hear the sound.  In a similar manner, we must tune our minds and hearts to God who is already present for us to hear His voice.

Some think an encounter with God requires clouds parting, supernatural visions, rolling thunder, and a mighty strong voice.  God most frequently does not manifest Himself through magnificent signs and visions, but through the most ordinary of things.

In the Old Testament Elijah searched for God on a mountain, in the wind, in an earthquake and in fire, but found him in a gentle whisper.  God speaks to us in whispers and we must learn to recognize his voice.  God speaks to us in the whispers of our daily lives, including the small tasks we perform each day out of love for him, our families and our neighbors.  God speaks to us in whispers when we turn to him for guidance and light when facing difficulties.

God is always closer to us than what it seems, and an encounter with him is always nearer than what we think.  Seek the Lord in prayer, seek in the Lord in the ordinary moments of your daily routine and the words of Deuteronomy will become a reality: “When you seek the Lord, your God, you shall indeed find him if you search after him with all your heart and soul.  In your distress, you shall finally return to the Lord, your God, and listen to his voice.”

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