Session 2

The second session offered a chance to consider the silence of the Holy One. From the first discussion we were reminded of the importance of keeping our perspective - God is infinite and we are not. Plus there is a world outside of our own that is beyond our understanding, and there are forces at play that we cannot always perceive. These things factor into the silence that we so often experience.

But sometimes that isn't enough. Sometimes we have to approach things in a different fashion. Sometimes God is communicating with us, just not in a way that we had expected. Perhaps He is using a close friend to deliver an important message or idea to us. Perhaps He is calling out to us in the quiet moments of our lives.

Dave talked about the story of Elijah on the mountain. God told Elijah that He would be present at the entrance to the cave that Elijah was hiding in. So Elijah went to the mouth of the cave, only to be greeted by a roaring wind storm that obliterated the face of the mountain. A violent earthquake that shook the ground beneath him. And a wall of fire passed in front of him. But God wasn't in any of these things. He was in a still small whisper that called Elijah out of the cave.

God isn't limited to speaking in one way. Perhaps the reason that we perceive silence is because we have locked God into a single way of answering us. Perhaps He is so much more than that. Do you always communicate with people in the same way? Are you not much more creative than a single form of communication? If that is true of you, would it not also be true of an infinite God that created you?

Dave then touched on a very tricky and sensitive area. It is possible that God is silent in our life because we are being a "selfish pig". Are you cherishing a sin in your heart? What actions are you fostering that you cannot seem to let go? Perhaps you would rather call it a habitual sin. Or look at your prayer life. Do your prayers consist of things for other people, or things for yourself? Are you only asking for things, or are you genuinely trying to get to know our Lord and Savior?

As a perfect fall back, the easiest way to find out how you are really acting is to ask other people. If you have friends that are willing to be honest with you, they will reveal to you much more about yourself than you ever knew (or perhaps cared to know).

The silence may not be as silent as you thought. Are there other channels of communication being used? Is there sin blocking the channels?