Quiet voice

Then he was told, “Go, stand on the mountain at attention before God. God will pass by." A hurricane wind ripped through the mountains and shattered the rocks before God, but God wasn’t to be found in the wind; after the wind an earthquake, but God wasn’t in the earthquake; and after the earthquake fire, but God wasn’t in the fire; and after the fire a gentle and quiet whisper. When Elijah heard the quiet voice, he muffled his face with his great cloak, went to the mouth of the cave, and stood there. A quiet voice asked, “So Elijah, now tell me, what are you doing here?”

1 Kings 19:11-13 (The Message)

Even the magnificence of the storm roar

Failed to awaken him.

Entangled by a shroud of misery,

Exhausted, angry and so desperately alone

He was unimpressed by the raging wind and driving rain.

Predictable, he thought.

The violence of the earthquake momentarily distracted him;

But too lost in his own despair

He remained unmoved and bound.

The flames, as spectacular as they were,

Failed to stir him.

He was no longer a prophet who dealt in fire.

The knots seemed to tighten.

Despairing,

Numb,

He barely heard the whisper.

Unexpected,

Gentle,

Tender,

The voice named him.

And he was undone.

Chris Matthews