Have you heard the still small voice? You can

The prophet Elijah heard the still small voice when he was hiding in a cave on top of Mount Sinai

This was during the iron age which is a long time ago.

But when I was thinking about the story one day I suddenly felt a strong kinship with this person who is on the mountain fleeing from Queen Jezebel who wanted to kill him and then he heard the voice of God speaking to him but it was not a strong or violent or  loud voice. No only when the tempest had gone and the fires had gone and everything was quiet that he heard the still small voice which is sometimes translated as a whisper.

I am not particularly religious in the conventional sense but ever since I heard this story possibly when I was a child I’ve always liked the idea because I think when we create things or when we looking for answers to a problem we often have to be patient and quiet so that we can hear this little voice inside us and I don’t think it’s just  the voice of conscience. I think it’s the Voice of creativity

When someone is brought up in a very religious home  it is quite frequent that they have a cruel conscience.

And one which does not whisper but shouts at them if they do the slightest thing wrong that they’re become afraid they’re going to go to hell and are very frightened

That kind of a conscience does not lead to creativity.

Because there’s another voice inside us just as there are other voices in our dreams and our day dreams. Are these little whispers helpful ideas or guidance on the path we are following that’s what I think they are.

But there is one important condition… that if we use them for egocentric purposes that the result will be no good. In other words the condition is selflessness. Just not egocentric if we can manage that but we can try not to do it things purely for self gratification or to become famous or wealthy or dominating

Our world is very noisy now ;once I went into a hairdressers and it was very quiet and peaceful so I was pleased but while my hair was being done the hairdresser apologised for the lack of music because something was broken in their system. When I said I preferred it like that she was very surprised.

It’s almost as if we’re trying to drown out the voice of God or whatever you like to interpret these things as.

And when we are alone we put the radio on or the television or we look on the computer for something to interest us.

I wonder how if we’re starting from the beginning how would we be able to encourage our inner self and begin to develop this little voice which helps us and to learn to hear it when it speaks. And although it’s quiet like a whisper it doesn’t mean it’s not important.

But it’s not going to use force on you because if you’re forced to do something or to listen to something you do not wish to cooperate. I would say that’s true for the majority of people. But if someone whispered the suggestion in your ear you’re much more likely to pay attention and to think about it as long as you’ve got a bit of time and space

And that’s the problem now for many people just trying to get a house pay the rent or more with have enough money for food and build and to encourage your children it’s very difficult even with our modern conveniences

Expect you’ve noticed that once we get a new machine like a washing machine instead of using it to help us we create more work by deciding that we can wash everyone’s clothes more frequently and that will take up the time that you saved

We have to keep some of that time for ourself even if other people think we’re being selfish. It may only be half an hour. But if we have half an hour every day quietly listening and waiting gradually we will change and notice things that we didn’t notice before.

This is what I have come to believe over the years and I have come across other people with the same perception.

It won’t make you famous or rich but it might make you more happy than you were or you may feel that you have to do something that might be difficult but that is your journey that is your vocation

Probably you won’t be happy unless you do that. But everybody’s got to find their own way. So if you don’t like what I say or you disagree with me that is very good.

Our opponents are our co-creators.

I’m not sure who said that but I think there’s a lot of truth in it.

Our opponents are not enemies.

I wish that more people believed that