Once again I find myself overlooking a frozen lake dotted with ice houses. It is February and time for a retreat in which a gathering of faithful people, some clergy and some not, will hear the stories of those who are coming to the United Methodist church to become ordained for ministry. It has been my privilege to serve in this way for several years now. In preparation we have read papers that have been prepared by the candidates and have watched sermons they have preached. But today we will do the truly holy work of speaking with them, asking questions and doing the work of holy listening.

To begin our time together last night, we heard the story of Elijah, his love of God and telling God’s movement in the world. Elijah is told to go out and stand on the mountain because the Holy One is about to pass by. In I Kings it says: “Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before God, but God was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake; but God was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake, a fire, but God was not in the fire; and after the fire, the sound of sheer silence.” The story goes on to say that when Elijah heard this powerful silence he covered his face and heard God’s voice asking: “What are you doing here?”

I can imagine that at least a few of the candidates for ministry may have awoken this morning asking themselves this question. My prayer is that some small, still voice has entered them allowing them to know that there are grace-filled people who are waiting to listen to their lives. My prayer is that they will know that we will be listening to the strong winds, the earthquakes, the fires and, most importantly, the silences that have enfolded their journey.

This is why we are all here. This is the work for this day, for these people. But isn’t this really the work we are offered every day? This is not the task set simply before those who are interviewing people called to ministry. The work of holy listening is offered to us with the rising of the sun each day. In all our relationships. In all the daily comings and goings of work, family, play, in the errands we run, the strangers we encounter.

Earthquakes, strong winds, and fires are moving through the lives of nearly every person we meet. All these same acts are moving across the face of our world. Surely the Holy One is in it all. And there are those moments of sheer silence that also hold the gentle, sometimes prodding, presence of God. Our work, should we choose to accept it, is to practice holy listening.This is why we are here.

For the healing of the world………