Time Out

Pause for a moment to relax, be still, and seek the face of God.

The following texts feature in the film Into Great Silence. It is suggested that you read them slowly, with pauses, a number of times. Allow the words to speak to you. Reflect on their meaning and impact on your life.

Getting Starting

• Find a comfortable position: sitting, kneeling, perhaps even lying down.
• Close your eyes and become attentive to the sounds and smells around you; become aware of your inhaling and exhaling.
• Read one of the passages found below slowly and a number of times.
• Reflect on any words or phrases which seem to resonate with you.
• Then in the silence ask God to show himself to you in a way that you can understand.
• Listen… Seek the “breeze” and then after a time of silence, speak to him from the depths of your heart.

“There was first a windstorm, wild wind which rent the mountains and broke the rocks into pieces before Yahweh, but Yahweh was not in the wind. After the storm, an earthquake, but Yahweh was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, a fire, but Yahweh was not in the fire. After the fire, the murmur of a gentle breeze. When Elijah perceived it, he covered his face with his cloak, went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Then he heard a voice addressing him again, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

1 Kings chapter 19 verses 11 – 13

“I shall give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I shall remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I shall put my spirit within you.”

Ezekiel chapter 36 verses 26 - 27