When the thunder scared him as a child, he asked his mother, Is God angry, Mama? No son, she told him. The angels are bowling.
He heard the sky’s rumbling as his eyes roamed the scene before him—street lamps looking like floating balls of light. Fluffs of snow fell on the dark pavement and, being too warm to stick, created a reflection for the light. He stared past the drops of water clinging to the window and, beyond the sound of a passing car, heard the wind—a slow, steady howl. It came closer until it consumed his concentration and he could feel its vibration run through him in echos.
The streetlights went out one by one, causing the white of the melting snow to appear even whiter. Alone with the sights and sounds, it occurred to him that quiet exists within the center of an atom. An atom of oxygen has eight protons and eight electrons. Perfect balance.
He knew that wind is the outgassing of light—chemicals and elements from a planet’s atmosphere moving into space—air rising to the warmth of the sun. Wind creates, destroys, sculpts. Breath, breeze, gusts of life force, the wind distributes seeds that die and regrow. Breathless stillness returns to life.
Without a word, the Wind had entered and altered his state of reason. The clinging drops of water rolled down the glass—years passing, tears counted. Water. Renewing. Restoring. The Voice of silence had spoken into his being. In the center of quiet he was filled. Balanced. He listened and heard. God’s beauty.
In the Center of Silence
I love the serenity of this piece.
Thank you Sarah.
Powerful writing here, Deb. You are the master of word pictures! I love and admire that!
Lynn, I’ve been praying for a way to touch those who need to know God’s Love. Thank you for these words. Brought tears to my eyes.
2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. Genesis 1:2
17 The clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad. Psalm 77:17
18 The voice of thy thunder was in the heaven: the lightnings lightened the world: the earth trembled and shook. Psalm 77:18
7 At thy rebuke they fled; at the voice of thy thunder they hasted away. Psalm 104:7
29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him. John 12:29
14 Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand? Job 26:14
5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice; great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend. Job 37:5
13 When he uttereth his voice, there is a multitude of waters in the heavens, and he causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth forth the wind out of his treasures. Jeremiah 10:13
1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. Revelation 6:1
2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: Revelation 14:2
(KJV)
I love words that create images, scenery, and faith !!
Thank you for your post!!
Carlos, this is so wonderful. Wonder filled I should say! I was writing about Genesis 1 today in memory of my mother so you can imagine how special your comment is to me. Thank you. I’m so grateful we’ve connected through Lynn Abbott.
You know, Deb, the Lord is a Spirit that crosses all things, and crosses us also, and knows our history, our thoughts, desires, and wills; only He can connect us with the forces of life, and with people and things that will share with our soul the hope, and with our heart the animus, the infinite fascination for its mysteries, its truths, and riches.
Today, my faith destroys me and rebuilds me, every day, until it is no longer, being more water and less dust. And I know that the sea is wide and deep, and is but a drop in the hands of God. E my dilution frees me to seek a clearer, more dignified, and honest image of the Lord in me.
Surreal but true.
Not surreal a bit to me, Carlos. Only honored, if not awestruck, to read these words.
Is enchanting, your verses have encouraged me to write!
I also feel honored to share with you the synthesis of the journey that the Lord set for me.
And you, as well, have encouraged me. May God’s blessings abound!???