Oprah and the Whisper of God (a Steve Orr scripture reflection)

A joke about a man in a flood:

As floodwaters began to rise, a person in a canoe came by a man’s house and offered him rescue. He refused, saying, "I've prayed about this. God will save me." So, the canoe moved on.

As the rising waters forced him up to the second story, people in a rowboat came by and implored him to join them. Again, he refused, repeating, "I've prayed about this. God will save me." So, the rowboat moved on. 

Eventually, he was forced out onto his roof. While he clung to the chimney, people in a motorboat came and begged him to climb aboard. Again, he said, “I’ve prayed about this. God will save me.” So, the motorboat moved on.

Soon the flood overtook him and swept him to his death.

Upon arriving in Heaven, he insisted on an immediate audience with God. At the meeting, he recounted how he had placed his faith in God to save him. He demanded to know why God allowed him to drown. In response, God said, "I sent you a canoe, a rowboat, and a motorboat. What more did you expect?"

                             -=*=-  -=*=-  -=*=-  -=*=-  -=*=- 

To be fair, any of us, weighed down with real problems, can lose the ability to recognize when actual help has arrived. It's almost endemic to the human condition. 

So, what should we do?

Some years ago, Oprah Winfrey was invited to give the Commencement address at Wellesley College. She described to them the experience of the Prophet Elijah in this week’s scriptures: At first, there is a wind so strong it breaks the rocks on the mountainside (think hurricane). But God is not in the mighty wind. Next, there is an devastating earthquake that shakes the mountain. But God is not in the earthquake. This is followed by a powerful fire that sweeps across the mountainside. But God is not in the fire. Finally, Elijah hears "a still, small voice," a whisper. And there, in the whisper, is God. 

Oprah went on to exhort the graduates to not wait for  —nor expect—  the grand spectacles; but rather, "to catch God on the whisper."

I thought it was a lovely way to launch those young women out onto the rest of their lives. And I think it's excellent advice for any of us. Why should we need the miraculous? Why not just tune our senses to perceive God's original, and simplest, approach? 

We don't need to skip the canoe, the rowboat, and the motorboat while awaiting something grander. There is no need to look beyond what may appear to be just ordinary circumstance. Consider what (and who) is right in front you.

Catch God on the whisper.

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PHOTO (1937 Flood, Paducah, Kentucky): 
https://kgs.uky.edu/kgsweb/download/misc/landuse/mccracken/mccrackenissues.htm

A different version of this reflection appeared in 2016 as Catch God on the Whisper.

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READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK

Proper 14 (19) (August 8, 2020)

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu//texts.php?id=154

Genesis 37:1-4, 12-28

Psalm 105: 1-6, 16-22, 45b

1 Kings 19:9-18

Psalm 85:8-13

Romans 10:5-15

Matthew 14:22-33

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There may be a change in our near future. We are discussing holding DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast via Zoom, this fall. Please keep this in prayer as we explore how this might work for us. In the meantime, I hope the scriptures and this reflection serve you. 

Blessings,

Steve