1 Kings 19:1-15
Now there was a great wind, so strong that 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.
It’s all getting a little too peopley.
And not just outside. It’s getting people inside too.
Don’t get me wrong – I love my kids – but all three girlies are home to celebrate the eldest’s birthday, and later this morning I’m picking up #1’s chap from the station, and he’s staying overnight. Then tomorrow we meet up with #2’s chap and we all go to London to see the ballet at Covent Garden (I knoooow, get us!), staying over in a 6-bed dorm at a youth hostel and back home on Sun. Drop off various people at various places on Monday and … breathe.
See what I mean? Peopley.
So I’m currently hiding in my study, writing this this and stocking up on solitude while I can.
Elijah found it was rather too peopley in our reading from 1Kings 19. Of course, a lot of the people were trying to kill him, so I guess that didn’t help.
I’ve written before about how God tended Elijah’s inner turmoil with gentle care, space and kindness. A choccy biccy and a cup of tea with a listening ear go a long way towards healing many hurts. Just cos we’re adults doesn’t mean we don’t need to be heard.
And I mean heard. Not fixed. Not told what to do. Not given good advice and a helpful leaflet. Heard. Those of you who are gifted listeners are very valuable. I was the front person at a lively mums and tots for years – I did the songs, told the stories, jollied everyone along – but it was the other helpers who were the powerhouse. They sat alongside the mums while their kids played, and they noticed and they listened. That’s where the healing happens.
But back to Elijah. After God has tended his physical needs, God tends to his mental/spiritual needs. He takes him to a rocky crag and shows Elijah his glory, re-envisions him, lifts Elijah’s eyes from the dust to the skies.
And where does that happen? In the whirling wind that shattered mountains? In the thundering earthquake? In the all-consuming fire? No. In the stillness of silence.
Same with me.
When life is too full of people, or things to do, or just plain things, when life is too much like the whirling wind, I struggle to lift my eyes to the sky. I see the jobs that need doing, the washing that needs putting the drier, the article that needs to be written, the people who want my attention, and they fill my vision. Sometime, the world is a bit too peopley and I need to hear the silence.
It’s not that I don’t want to spend time with the people, and the washing does need putting in the drier and the article does need to be written, but when these take up too much of my vision, I need to hear the silence.
I am blessed in that I have a field right across from my house, That’s my go-to place to hear the silence. But if it’s chucking it down, a labyrinth is a great way to walk away from the ‘stuff’ that’s clogging up your head.
Here’s a labyrinth for you. Print it out. Colour it if you like. Or don’t. Trace it slowly with your finger. Pause at the turns. Breathe. Write in the paths what you want to say to God. Write what God says to you. Or draw pictures. Or don’t. Take time. Hear the silence. Breathe.
Image from my book, 40 Days with Labyrinths, a selection of meditations from the Bible, each with an original artwork labyrinth to walk or colour, published by DLT. Follow-up book due out Sept 2026.
From the blurb:
- Expertly bridges the gap between mindfulness and Bible study
- Combines meditative colouring with accessible yet scholarly application of timeless truths to our modern lives
- In a goal-oriented society, this book help us focus on the journey, not the destination
Labyrinths have been a treasured part of Christian spirituality for centuries. The journey along a winding path, with twists and turns, unexpected obstacles, and the satisfaction of reaching journey’s end, creates an ideal opportunity for mindful and prayerful reflection upon our lives and God’s plan for us. In this book, Fay Rowland presents a brilliant modern take on Bible study and labyrinth-walking. She offers forty short, biblical meditations on the challenges and blessings of daily life, each accompanied by a labyrinth illustration which you can ‘walk’ – just with your finger, or perhaps with colouring pens or pencils – as you reflect on the reading. As in life, some of the labyrinth journeys are simple, while others present a more complicated path! 40 Days with Labyrinths is ideal for personal reflection during Lent or at any other time of year.
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The Reflectionary 