Hearing the One Voice
Stassi Cramm, Presiding Bishop
Praise the LORD, all you nations!
Extol him, all you peoples!
For great is his steadfast love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD! -Psalm 117
One of the most powerful moments I have experienced in worship happened at an International Youth Forum. We were in the Auditorium chamber. The worship was high-energy, filled with action and sound. Worship peaked when sounds suddenly came from all around the chamber. People were speaking and reading from various locations. Others were playing musical instruments. Some were singing. It was very confusing and hard to understand what was going on. It created a feeling of anxiety and tension in me. It was so chaotic.
Then one by one each person speaking, singing, or playing an instrument stopped until there was only one voice. One solitary voice, clear and audible across the chamber, even though it felt like just a whisper after the cacophony of sounds we had just heard. The voice expressed each one’s worth and God’s love for all. It felt as if the voice was speaking personally to each one. Then the voice stopped, and the room momentarily became dark and silent. In the absence of sound and light, the words of affirmation lingered in the air and slowly entered my soul-like drops of water sinking into parched soil.
We live in a fast-paced world that can lead to sensory overload. We can lose ourselves in the chaos. We forget who we are and, more importantly, whose we are.
Lent is a time for reflection as we consider our journey as Christ’s disciples. It is a time when we can shut off, one by one, some of the sensory stimulation filling our lives, creating space where we can reconnect with that One Voice who knows us by name. Take a moment to turn off the radio the next time you are in the car alone. You might be surprised by what you hear in the silence.
Prayer Phrase
I surrender into your love.
Spiritual Practice
Centering Prayer
Set a timer for 20 minutes. (If that feels like too much at first, choose a time that will be comfortable for you as a starting place, committing to expand that time in future prayer.) Allow the rhythm of your breath to draw you deeper and deeper into silence. As you breathe, claim one sacred word (Christ, peace, grace, trust, etc.) emerging in you as an anchor to return you to the intention of your prayer when your thoughts begin to wander. Gently release the thoughts and images that come, making space for presence to the One who is with you here and now. Release, return, “be vulnerable to divine grace” (Doctrine and Covenants 163:10b).
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.