The little boys, I’ve noticed, are asking fewer questions about how Santa operates. Yesterday, they wanted to know how Santa “gets up?” (I didn’t know what they meant either.) That’s been the only question about the jolly man in red. They’re probably afraid to dig to deep — afraid they’ll find that magic really isn’t there if they look too close.
They’ve been busy answering bigger questions. “What is God like?” “Where is he?” “Why can’t we see him or hear him?” I’m at a loss as to what to say. The only thing I can do is point them to Elijah. People — an entire army, in fact, was coming after Elijiah to kill him. He looked up to God.
“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a might windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. (1 Kings 19: 11-13 NLT)
This whisper-like quality is found in all religions and spiritual disciplines. In yoga, we sit in quiet meditation. In particular, I find it fascinating how the Bible reveals how great and powerful God is, and yet at the same time, he encourages rest and quiet. Can you imagine the worst day in your life, and hearing these words from Isaiah 30:15?
“Only in returning to me and resting in me will you be saved. In quietness and confidence is your strength.”
The command is to rest. In yoga, we call it “letting go of our attachment.”
….. practice and all is coming