what are you doing here?--a guided meditation for Ordinary 12C

Today we will walk in the footsteps of Elijah.
Close your eyes.
Put your feet flat on the floor, sit up straight, and be comfortable.
Take a deep breath in, and let it out slowly.
Take a deep breath in, and let it out slowly.

Picture a place you like to go…
a place you go when you need to get away,
when you need some perspective,
when you need to be reminded of what’s important,
a place where you feel grounded and secure.

What do you see?
What do you hear?
What do you smell?
What do you feel?

Just be in the place, relax.

Why are you here? What are you doing in that place?

God is asking a question, right into your ear: what are you doing here?

After hearing your story, God says, to you,
I am coming to visit. Come and see.

(Wait for the Lord)

What does it look like when God comes to visit?
What happens?

A great wind, a Pentecost wind, begins blowing all around…
trees are bending…
papers are flying…
your hair is whipping about your face….
is this God?

no, not this time.
(Wait for the Lord)

The earth is shaking,
the mountains tremble,
the rocks fall,
the barriers that divide people are torn away…
is this God?

no, not this time.
(Wait for the Lord)

A bush is burning,
tongues of flame are dancing,
a pillar of fire whirls around…
is this God?

no, not this time.
(Wait for the Lord)

And then…

nothing.

silence.

No birds. no breeze. no sound.


Like the silence that comes when something unusual is happening.

…………..

Finally, there are no distractions, no outside noise, no inner noise, no clutter around or within you, no chaos—just calm.

You stand up and hear a gentle, quiet, whisper calling your name.

God has come to visit.

What are you doing here?

(Wait for the Lord)

Into the silence, God whispers:
I am with you.
I will never leave you.
I am the rock on which you stand.
My grace is enough.
I have a job for you to do.
All that chaos, all that destruction, was not the end, but a beginning of new work.
Will you speak, sing, even shout, my word, my love, to the world?
Will you come and follow me?

(Be Still)