The Eloquent Silence of Winter

but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. 1 Kings 19. 9 - 18

In his search for the Lord, Elijah heard God say go stand on the mountain and wait for the Lord to pass by...and so he did. But he didn't find God in the wind or the earthquake or the fire...only in the "sheer silence" which translates in Hebrew as a deep, profound, or absolute quiet. A wise woman once said that eloquent was a good translation for sheer, and ever since I heard that, settling into eloquent silence has been an essential part of my centering prayer practice.

Maybe that is what wintering is all about...focusing on the underground silence, nurturing our roots to protect them against the storms of life, letting what is above ground be still and unimportant as we enhance our roots. and then listen to the eloquent silence of God which strengthens and enriches and leads to the new growth of spring.

As we ease into the new year, may we find comfort and peace in the nurturing of our roots, savoring God's eloquent wintering silence not looking forward or backward but only inward.