Whisper: or the Still Small Voice

This month’s poem strays from standard poetry because it actually consists of the lyrics to a song. I wrote this song on February 6th, the one-year anniversary of the earthquakes in Turkey. As my old hometown, Malatya, was one of the cities near the earthquake origin, many people and places I had known or seen were affected. However, one of the hardest parts—since I no longer live there—was not the earthquake, but instead not being able to go there to help. The painting in the header image is the best way I could find to offer help or hope to those in the earthquake regions without being physically there. Another difficulty was realizing that when I did return, the city would most likely be unrecognizable. 

The second inspiration for this song is the story of Elijah in the cave, and particularly the “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12 KJV). The combination of the earthquake in the story, especially how God was not “in the earthquake,” and how intimately God actually interacted with Elijah struck me. It served as a reminder of how many times the comfort and blessings of God can be missed because we are looking at the big, dramatic events and not the small, personal touches. 

The third inspiration for this song, and part of the reason for why the verse had touched me, was the memory of summer camp when I was very little. At a summer camp in Elâzığ, Turkey, when I was most likely in elementary school, I had been struggling with feeling lonely, a rare thing for me when I was younger. My mind clouded by the distance I felt between myself and others, I entered that prayer night feeling unusually down for a little girl at a camp she usually loved. But on that night, as the teachers prayed for me and the other students, I suddenly felt the Lord—not in the form of a loud voice or a vivid vision, but just a feeling like arms around me, like I wasn’t alone anymore. It was the personal and intimate touch I had so desperately needed at that moment. 

Lastly, this song is inspired by the struggle I have had over the past few years to reconnect with God and follow his commandments. In a way, it is a reminder I am giving that God is still there even if I am missing him while I focus on the shame of what I have done or said. I hope it may serve as a reminder and encouragement to others as well.

Whisper

And behold the Lord passed by

A great strong wind shook up my life

In brokenness tears I cried

As stones fell down my mountain of pride

But the Lord wasn’t wind

A great earthquake shook up my town

Now all is new when I look around

And how I wish I could have helped

But I blamed you, and not myself

Cuz in the sinking sand

I didn’t trust you nor your plan

Couldn’t find where to stand

Who to be, or who I am

But you weren’t the earthquake

Next came the blazing fire

Blinded by my own desire

Choking the air from my lungs

When I couldn’t face what I’d become

But my God, you weren’t the flames

But maybe I’ve been looking in all the wrong places

Going too fast to find where your face is

So why don’t I listen instead of blaming

For the still small voice

And I don’t know, when it will come again

But I know, I’ll be trying 

To be still and keep listening

Cuz I’ve heard it, standing at the entrance

Painting Credits: Anna Stone and the Turkish of Psalms 34:18