Edges
“The mighty man will become tinder and his work a spark; both will burn together, with no one to quench the fire.” Isaiah 1:31
“Slowly but surely I’m watching the edge of the river as it slowly moves toward my home. I have watched the bottom floor flooded many times. We have prepared as we usually do, and I know there isn’t anything I can do, but to watch the edges as it slowly moves in our direction.”
“Well, how do you feel?”
“We don’t, we just stand and watch.”
Silence can be our most active form of prayer when our words seem inadequate. Knowing you are not alone and that God is there does not take words, hymns or even some nice liturgy. The Old Testament prophets looked at the onslaught of disasters and somehow were able to find God’s presence. In the inner silence of the eternal soul there is strength, a power, call it what you will that is mystically awaken as the outer shell of our dependence upon the world is shattered.
In watching my friend’s eyes that moment, might be compared to the gentle wave action of a still night seen on a pond lit only with reflections of star sparkle seen here and there. One had to look closely to see the reflection of an inner light. Poets and prophets have attempted to give these momentary flashes names like faith, hope, courage, spirit or even God. There were sparks of energy or spirit that would someday rekindle fires that tonight are dampened by the tears dwelling up in her eyes.
An inner silence comes with the seeing these sparks, within which you know, a presence that goes beyond traditional knowledge. It is not the kind of knowing that comes from formal education, but rather from divine enlightenment. In the next few days, weeks and months, I will be standing with my friend, finding strength because we are not alone.
It only takes a spark. Amen
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