May 26, 2022 – When Things Fall Apart, Pema Chodron

Emptiness

“The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” 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. ¹² After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” 1 Kings 19:11-12

“…emptiness—not fixating or holding on to anything. Only in an open, nonjudgmental space can we acknowledge what we are feeling. Only in an open space where we’re not all caught up in our own version of reality can we see and hear and feel who others really are, which allows us to be with them and communicate with them properly.” Chodron, Pema. When Things Fall Apart (Shambhala Classics) (p. 104).

Emptiness

No one likes emptiness. We do not like an empty gas tank when we are in the middle of nowhere. We do not an empty stomach when we are miles from any restaurants. We do not like to be empty of relationships when we are in need of companionship. And yet, Pema Chodron talks about emptiness, or better understood as “openness” as a necessity if we want to truly understand reality.

We know people who fill their lives with all kinds of negative and useless things trying to fill their emptiness. And when we fill ourselves with all kinds of stuff, whether feelings or priorities or stuff, then we will not be as open to the “new” or the “different” as we should.

Think about Elijah, who is running from Jezebel because he had angered her by killing all of the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel. He ran to the mountain of G-d and rested because he was filled with fear. But the Lord sent a great wind, an earthquake and a fire filled with great and terrible power. But the Lord was not in those things. Then Elijah heard nothing more than a whisper – which was the very voice of G-d.

You see, when we empty our minds of the powerful vices of this world, and we empty our ears of the powerful voices of this world – then, in the emptiness, we can hear the voice of G-d calling us to love the Lord and to love our neighbor. It requires purposeful emptiness. Will we have the courage to empty our lives of the unnecessary – and fill it with the very presence of the Lord?

Let us pray,

Lord, we think there is power in stuff. The more stuff we have the more full we will feel. Help me today to empty my heart of vice and coveting and fill it with your love and presence. Amen.

Pastor Dave