Where do we find God?
“Then the word of the Lord said to Elijah, ‘Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ And a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces, 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 still small voice.” 1 Kings 19:11-12
In 1 Kings 19, the world around the great prophet Elijah seems to be crumbling. Elijah’s very life is in danger, and he finds himself isolated from those he trusts and loves. Being faithful, Elijah seeks the presence of God. He wonders where God is to be found in the midst of his troubles. Elijah is bombarded by the fire, the wind, and the earthquake, and he thinks that God will most likely be found somewhere in the noise and tumult going on around him.
But God is not in the tumult. God is instead revealed in the “still small voice.”
God was never in the rattle and bombast. Rather, all that noise merely prevented Elijah from encountering God. God was never apart from Elijah in the first place, but only when Elijah took a step away from the noise, only when he was quiet and still, could Elijah encounter the God who was always there.
Many have realized the truth of this story this past week. Even as we’ve had to retrench from work, severely restrict our movements, and suspend visitations with friends and family beyond the home, newfound small moments of stillness and quiet have presented themselves as gifts. That is one of the innumerable ways that God is redeeming these days.
The moments of holy respite differ for each of us. In my own life, I am taking a 45-minute walk with Jill each day, trekking down side streets we’ve never seen before and talking about things that the crush of ordinary days doesn’t allow. I am making a dent in the Tower of Babel-sized stack of books on my nightstand. (Remember how great reading is?) I am daydreaming, which I haven’t done in years, and thinking with gratitude about those places and encounters in my life that have nourished and enlightened me. In each of these and many other ways, I encounter the still small voice of God, who casts off anxiety and restores hope. The key is for us to turn down the volume and stop moving long enough to recognize the gift and listen for the voice. These days give us that blessed opportunity.
Where do we find God today? God is not in the noise and tumult that surround us. God is in the still small voice. God is there, with you, in your home. God is also downtown at the corner of Prairie and Caroline, where the Beacon quietly and faithfully continues to distribute food to women and men for whom the tragedy of homelessness does not take hiatus for the coronavirus. God is at the Texas Medical Center and at hospitals throughout our great city, where physicians, nurses, lab techs, and orderlies give of their prodigious brainpower, compassion, and steady care to protect our public health and ease the burden of those already infected by the virus. God has been with us since before the coronavirus arrived, and God will be with us still when the coronavirus is gone. Take time today to see our current circumstance not as isolation but as the blessed opportunity to hear God’s still small voice.
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Bishop Doyle has asked us to be prepared for the suspension of in-person worship and group gatherings to extend through the month of April. We are making those preparations, including readying ourselves for online Holy Week and Easter services. I will keep you updated weekly. In the meantime, here is important information for this week:
Pastoral Care: You are part of the Cathedral family. We are all sisters and brothers in Christ, and if you have need in this time of social distancing, your Cathedral is here for you. If you need to contact our minister for pastoral care or a priest for tangible assistance, an ear to bend, or a word of encouragement, here is our contact information:
Jody Gillit, Minister for Pastoral Care, var u455593112=”jgillit”; var h15040011=”christchurchcathedral.org”;var linktext=u455593112+’@’+h15040011;h15040011=”christchurchcathedral.org”;document.write(‘‘ + linktext + ”); , 832-691-4775
The Very Rev. Barkley Thompson, var u1374836848=”bthompson”; var h982027340=”christchurchcathedral.org”;var linktext=u1374836848+’@’+h982027340;h982027340=”christchurchcathedral.org”;document.write(‘‘ + linktext + ”); , 832-740-3595
The Rev. Canon Art Callaham, var u1143364407=”acallaham”; var h1641201086=”christchurchcathedral.org”;var linktext=u1143364407+’@’+h1641201086;h1641201086=”christchurchcathedral.org”;document.write(‘‘ + linktext + ”); , 713-597-1375
The Rev. Canon Simón Bautista, var u850028016=”sbautista”; var h856599752=”christchurchcathedral.org”;var linktext=u850028016+’@’+h856599752;h856599752=”christchurchcathedral.org”;document.write(‘‘ + linktext + ”); , 301-204-0130
The Rev. Canon Becky Zartman, var u428552849=”bzartman”; var h1255182387=”christchurchcathedral.org”;var linktext=u428552849+’@’+h1255182387;h1255182387=”christchurchcathedral.org”;document.write(‘‘ + linktext + ”); , 570-259-0671
The Rev. Greg Seme, var u1838396485=”gseme”; var h1287626676=”christchurchcathedral.org”;var linktext=u1838396485+’@’+h1287626676;h1287626676=”christchurchcathedral.org”;document.write(‘‘ + linktext + ”); , 305-788-0754
The Rev. Jim Morgan, var u850526133=”jmorgan”; var h234998752=”beaconhomeless.org”;var linktext=u850526133+’@’+h234998752;h234998752=”beaconhomeless.org”;document.write(‘‘ + linktext + ”); , 936-355-9051
After Hours Pastoral Care Line, English, 713-826-5332 (nights and weekends)
After Hours Pastoral Care Line, en español, 301-204-0130
If you are isolated and need someone to pick up groceries or other necessities for you, please contact Jody Gillit, and we will arrange for someone to help you.
If you would like to volunteer to assist other parishioners in this way, please contact Jody Gillit as well.
Sunday Worship: Again this Sunday, March 29, we will worship together…from home! The links to the worship services are found on the main scrolling photos of the website’s homepage, as well as here for 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 5 p.m.
Sunday School: Sunday school from home is offered again this week at 10 a.m. Minister for Children & Families KariAnn Lessner and Minister for Youth Marcia Quintanilla will email our Cathedral families directly with log-on information for Sunday school.
The Robert C. Stuart Lenten Series: The Lenten series will continue virtually this week. Check your Cathedral Thursday Enews for information on how to access the Lenten series.
Weekday Noon Worship: Each day Cathedral clergy continue to offer Noonday Prayer on Facebook Live. You are invited to join here on the Cathedral Facebook page.
Other Virtual Cathedral Programming: Please visit this page on our website to discover all the programs, podcasts, bible studies, and other opportunities for online engagement with your Cathedral family.
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Finally, this week I offer a second video, compiled by priests who are friends and colleagues across the nation and the globe. We prayed the Prayers of the People together as a way to express that we are all the Body of Christ.
Blessings be upon you, Cathedral family. You are in my daily prayers. Take time this week to listen for that still small voice. Amen.
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