Guerilla Love-fare

I would be silent now, Lord,
and expectant . . .
that I may receive
the gift I need,
so I may become
the gifts others need.
Ted Loder
I have this quote from his book Guerillas of Grace taped to my computer, so that as the clatter of my day grabs me and spins me around I will be reminded to stop and wait upon the Lord. I have learned through the years that silence is my best friend in ministry and in life.
Another of my favorite books is The Search for Silence by Elizabeth O'Connor. I read it in college back in the '70s, but I find myself revisiting it again and again through life's ages and stages. It still speaks to me, each time in a new and different way, of the power of silence to mold and shape me into the image of God as intended in my creation.
With so many devices of noise calling for my attention today - iPhone, iPad, land line, email, TV, iPod, cars, trains, etc. - it takes more and more effort to stop and listen for the only voice that matters - the voice of my creator. The voice that I choose to form me. The voice that has only my best interest at heart. The voice that proclaims in my baptism "This is my beloved." The voice that teaches me who I am and whose I am. The voice that leads me out of temptation and into grace. The voice that leads me through the wilderness into the promised land. The voice that reminds me of the promises when the wilderness looms large and frightening. I can only clearly hear THAT magnificent, eloquent, perfect voice when I LISTEN. And for me, that means shutting up, and being still, and staying in the silence.
I know it's corny, but another of my favorites is Josh Groban's interpretation of You Raise Me Up. I often listen to it on Sunday mornings to get me pumped before going to church to do my minister thing. Here's my favorite part:
When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.
Take time, be still, and wait. You never know when God himself will come and sit awhile with you.