A Lighter Way Week 12: Hearing the Birds Sing
Aug 08, 2026Reflection
Sometimes I find myself pacing back and forth, my mind filled with worry, my heart anxious. Sometimes I rush from one task to another, so much so that I forget what I’m looking for or doing. Any creativity I might have had going into the work vanishes. Sometimes there is so much noise – phones ringing, messages pinging, shouting voices, shouting thoughts, shouting feelings – that the chaos becomes overwhelming. And when this happens? I am not present. Difficult things in life become even more difficult and burdensome. My heart sinks. My mind shrinks. My body constricts. And I cannot hear the birds sing.
When I cannot hear the birds sing, I want to remember the story of Elijah’s encounter with ultimate mystery.
And God said to Elijah, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.* And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance to the cave (NRSV 1 Kings 19:9-13a).
We often have great expectations about divine presence, that it will come to us in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire – in the miracle or in the total transformation of our lives and communities. And upon rare occasion it does. Many of us have experienced the earthquake nature of Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream Speech.” This event continues to give evidence of the truth, love, and freedom of divine presence. But much more often divine presence comes to us in the ordinariness of human life – a kind word, a welcoming heart, a generosity of spirit, a still small voice.
We prepare for such revelations of presence by pausing those pacing shoes, slowing down those rushing feet, and removing the constantly intrusive noise and chaos around us. We meander in silence following Mother Earth’s pathways. We foster attentive listening and seeing. We take a long loving look at the real. And, from time to time, we are cradled within the sound of sheer silence, knowing we have encountered the ineffable one once again. We can hear the birds sing. And peace prevails.
*Other versions of the Bible translate “a sound of sheer silence” as “a still small voice.”
Practice
Spend 15 minutes each day in quiet stillness. Ask yourself two questions: What are your heart’s desires? Where or when do you experience gratitude? Spend the last few minutes journaling.
Blessing
May the Creator of all bless you with abundant life.
May Wisdom enlighten your ways and speak what is true.
May the Spirit of love enkindle your heart and move you with compassion.
Amen.
This twelfth reflection comes from Sister Mary Rose Bumpus, Supervisor of Spiritual Directors-in-Training and Instructor in WTC's School of Spiritual Direction
Stay Connected!
Updates and News sent directly to your inbox.
We hate SPAM. We will never sell your information, for any reason.
