Shhh! God is Trying to Talk!

by Jimmy Cochran
Published July 15, 2005

My physician has a phrase which he uses just about every time he sees me. "Now Jimmy, we must learn more about age appropriate behavior." Usually this comes after a sprained wrist from volleyball, a pulled muscle from softball, a sprained ankle from a ropes course, another sprained ankle and no skin on my lower half because of learning to rollerblade. I always hang my head, act contrite and reply, "Yes, doctor. I'll try to keep that in mind."

Yeah, right. I am one of those people who do not want to come to my last breath and have regrets for never trying some things at least once. Hence, the rollerblades when I was in my late 40's.....an accident just waiting to happen. About a year ago, I came up with what I thought would be my ideal activity - scuba diving. I love the water, and fish, and being wet, so I figured that I'd give it a try and signed up for lessons.

The teachers introduced us to the equipment, showed us how to put it on, adjust everything and we prepared to enter the pond. I submerged myself and began to breathe through the tank. After a few times of practicing techniques, the teacher told us to submerge and just enjoy being underwater for thirty to forty minutes, just doing our thing. They had various items under the water for us to explore, things written out for us to read and several other underwater activities.

”Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)

The first thing I noticed was the quietness. It was absolutely quiet and still. As my breathing became regulated, you didn't even hear or notice the tank assisting your breath. All you heard was the quiet. As I paddled around the bottom of the pond like a catfish or some other bottom feeding creature, I found myself thinking about God's creation of the earth, the underwater world and the beauty thereof. I discovered how to just sit on the bottom and be perfectly still. For those minutes, the truth of the above verse came crystal clear. In order to truly hear and feel God, we must be still and quiet. There on the bottom of the pond, I could feel God speaking in the quietness. It was amazing. Once we came back to the surface, the noises of the world seemed so very loud that I wanted to return to the pond world of quietness.

I've learned to remember that feeling as I try to commune with God these days. The feeling of being at the bottom of a body of water, feeling the presence of the water on my body, but also the overwhelming quietness of the moment. In this loud and noisy world, it is hard to "be still", but that is what God expects of us. How did he finally speak to Elijah? Not in storms and earthquakes and crashing trees, but in the gentle whisper of the wind. We have to come to that place where we can totally submerge ourselves into our God, feel His Presence surrounding our bodies and to enter the overwhelming quietness of Him. Is it easy to do? Not at all, but, once you begin to make a serious attempt, you'll be surprised at what you may encounter. Or, you can always take a scuba lesson.

And for today my friends, this is the gospel according to Jimmy.

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