Who or what experience has been highly influential in your life? This is the question we posed to our Sunday morning community of 20-somethings. Most responded with a who, but three responded with an event. The events were very similar — it was a season when they were alone with God for an extended period of time. One gal took a month long solo back-packing trip. For another it was a time at a summer camp without any electronics for 8 hours and then for 24 hours. They struggled with their questions; they listened for the voice of God. It was a time of growing spiritually. It was a rock in their Christian lives. It was a time of dormancy for them. It was highly influential.

Zachariah’s wife Elizabeth also practices of time of dormancy.

“And when his (Zechariah’s) time of performing priestly functions was ended,
he returned to his [own] house.
Now after this his wife Elizabeth became pregnant,
and for five months
she secluded herself entirely,
saying,
[I have hid myself]
Luke 1:23 and 24, Amplified version, (italics mine)

Luke 1:40 tells us that Elizabeth had not left her home. She found a quiet place to be with God in her home. She was alone but not alone. “I (God) am with you always …). Matthew 28:20. I picture her reviewing, remembering, listening, praying while experiencing the power of God in her life. I imagine there was great peace in her waiting and maturing in her friendship with God.

“For with God nothing is ever impossible,
and no word from God shall be without power
or impossible of fulfillment”.
Luke 1:37 Amplified version

And what were the results …

*** Elizabeth was able to humbly acknowledge and bless Mary.
*** Elizabeth gave birth to John in her old age, an answer to her prayers of many years.
*** All their neighbors were in awe as they realize God is working among them.
*** His father Zechariah, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied pointing to God.

Often I pray, God, please, grow my faith, grow my trust. I say amen and wonder, what would it look like to trust God today. As, once again, I’ve pondered this familiar story, I’ve realized trust is not something I conjure up, something I do; trust is acknowledging that it’s God’s word that is powerful and promises fulfillment.  Luke 1:37. Trust is humbling myself to receiving God’s powerful gift.

So this Advent, the bottom rock in my cairn is the one supporting all the rest, is the rock of dormancy, being still and listening.

Cairns are landmarks, trail markers serving navigational purposes. And I wonder, how is Advent leading me.

Four years ago, I posted about this in another form; in a poem I wrote.

https://suetell.com/a-winter-aspen/

The second rock on my cairn is the Rock of Presence. Come back next Thursday.

 

Copyright: Sue Tell, November 2022