Hush

"Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper."

Sometimes a man-loves-woman relationship is not made by the romantic sunsets watched, or in all of the epic moments that occur. It can be the most beautiful when it is in a gentle whisper. A whisper that assures me that you think we can survive the five months when I will be the farthest possible distance from you. A whisper that lets me know you love me. A whisper when you praise my prowess at banana grams. That matters more to me than any act, any vow, any rose.

Same goes for siblings. It is not the mountains we have climbed together, or the endless hours spent in the car traveling from place to place, or the presents we give and receive. It is when I tuck you in at night. And kiss you forehead after brushing your hair with my fingers. A tenderness reserved for mother and child, which we share. A joy exclusive between best friends, which we emanate. I love everything you stand for and everything you are. The gentle whisper of 'I love you more' follows me all of my days and my soul does not rest until it is next to yours. What blessed siblings I have been given.

I know God puts people in our lives to teach us about him. We are made in his image, and we need to rub shoulders with others to realize this. The fact that God's most ardent affection for us can be displayed and contained in a whisper reminds me that the relationship one can have with God is real. As real as any whisper of commitment or love. The love God has for us is that of insurmountable measurements.

To commune most closely to God

perhaps we should try whispering back.