January 1, 2007

Five years ago a few men commandeered four airplanes.  Two crashed into the World Trade Center Towers and one into the Pentagon.  This scene of horror was motivated by a conviction that God would be praised by such devastation. Two years ago hurricanes Katrina and Rita carved a path of destruction through Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida and Alabama, causing many people to wonder if there was a message from God in those events.

One year ago a tsunami washed away villages, towns, adults and children throughout the Indian Ocean region.  Flurries of articles were written by believers and non-believers as to whether God had visited these places with divine justice.

The question arises:  can the hand of God be perceived by sifting through the rubble created by planes, hurricanes and tsunamis?

This kind of question was once raised in Hebrew Scripture.  Elijah, a prophet, went up to Horeb, the mountain of God.  While he was standing on the mountain “Behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains…but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake; but the lord was not in the earthquake; and after this earthquake, a fire, but the Lord was not in this fire, and after the fire, a still small voice.”  (I Kings, 19:11-12)

How to make sense of the world where constant claims are being made that destruction is god-like, god-inspired, god-pleasing?  How to make sense of a God who may well be recognized in the unfolding of human and natural drama?  Clue:  trust the still small voice.

In interfaith dealings, people of various religions don’t agree on doctrines or dogmas.  Nevertheless, despite wide and deep chasms gouged by centuries of differing beliefs and conflicting destinies, there is a bridge connecting the various boundaries, a bridge where orthodoxies are not threatened and actual accords can be discovered.  The bridge is formed by sitting together, quietly, in common respect for the still small voice.