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Persistent Whispers, Ears That Hear, and The Practice of Listening

Wednesday Pause

Author

JoyOver
April 03, 2024

There’s a well known passage of scripture in 1 Kings where the prophet Elijah stands out on the edge of a mountain to await God’s presence.

Fraught with discouragement over the lack of care and concern the Israelites seemed to be showing toward God, Elijah had journeyed to this sacred place to find safety and refuge. Beat down, alone, and fleeing for his life, he wanted God to show up. And God did! Only …

It wasn’t in the way Elijah was expecting.

This time, Elijah wasn’t surrounded by the bigness and power of a mighty wind. Nor was he shaken with the felt presence of a ground-moving earthquake. Nor was he swept up in amazement by the force of inferno fire. [1]

No, not this time.

This time, God showed up differently.

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With a new month and a new theme underway, I wonder what the practice of listening could look like for you?

Yes, God does speak to us in a variety of big and powerful ways—like through friends and family, and the sacred text of scripture.

Yes, God does indeed reveal Himself with the felt presence of nature, worship, and the stir and swell of our human emotions.

And yes, God does indeed show up in amazement by the force of answered prayers, shared story, and the alignment of our deepest longings.

But what about the gentle whispers?

In the in-between spaces of our lives, there is delicacy and nuance, gentleness and grace, softness and holy hushes. And it’s here, too, where the still, small voice of God whispers to ears that hear.

Are you listening?

As we explore the soul work of listening this month, together, may we tend to and journey toward God’s persistent whispers.

—With Joy

Spiritual Director
Co-Founder & Content Director
[email protected]

A Pause to Practice

Visio Divina is an ancient way of Christian prayer in which space is created to listen and pay attention to the Holy at work by entering into a sacred image. This form of praxis is an invitation into the S.A.C.R.E.D. art of seeing, and the art below is this month’s featured offering for your time of reflection.

  • Stillness: Find a comfortable place of quiet. Take a few deep breaths. Invite God’s presence.

  • Acknowledge: Gaze gently over the entire image, allowing yourself to notice as many details as you can - shapes, colors, lighting, foreground, background, and symbols.

  • Center: Notice what captures your attention, what your eyes are drawn to, or where your thoughts linger. Notice what inspires you, and perhaps what you might also be avoiding.

  • Reflect: Meditate on any part of the image that has captured you. How might God be speaking to you through this? What might the message and meaning be? Is there an invitation in this for you?

  • Express: Find words or a prayer of your heart to articulate the thoughts, emotions, memories, or desires that have awakened. Give voice to the insights you’ve gained.

  • Dwell: Savor this sacred time. Rest in simple silence. Linger in the holiness of this space and place of practice.

“Listening” by Dustin Heigh

The Story Behind the Art

All created things have a story to share. But often we don’t have room to hear because our ears are filled with false narratives we’ve been carrying for far too long—narratives we’ve allowed to write over and drown out the stories of truth.

To listen is to let go of ego in order to discover the beauty of story within ourselves, the story in those around us, and the bigger God story we’re all invited into.

The practice and soul work of listening is about holding space and making room; it’s about curious learning; and it’s about maintaining a posture of presence as we lean in to hear the subtle details of delight in the stories of our everyday lives. [2]

—Listening by Dustin Heigh

A Passage to Ponder

“My son, attend to my words. Turn your ear to my sayings. Let them not depart from your eyes. Keep them in the center of your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and health to their whole body. Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.”

—Proverbs 4:20-23, WEB

  • [1] The Lord Appears to Elijah, 1 Kings 19:11-13, WEB.

  • [2] Listening by Dustin Heigh, IG: @joint.and.marrow.

  • If you would like to share this issue of PAUSE with a friend—via text, social media, or email—hold down on the following link, and when the option window pops up, hit ‘share’ »» https://joyover.com/pause/april-3-2024

  • Click here for previous month’s art offerings