Frequency–Hearing God Speak Above the Waves {a #Poem}
Frequency
There was always a tune in the heart of God
A song that He sang over us.
The melody came with a note from above
A chorus from the Father of love.
But the tune met resistance-titanium, stone
Even water that blocked all the notes.
Was everyone drowning, message nullified, absorbed?
Perhaps the enchantment would float.
Water can weaken a sound and its waves
Blocking signals in vapor and cloud
But the Son kept on singing-well, whispering-daily
With a trust that He needn’t be loud.
In the quiet a descant comes waving to usward
Accompanies us towards Shalom
Above all the noise, o’er the surface of water
God’s not deterred as we roam.
He spoke into the void at Creation’s explosion
Declaration of power and might
But love bade him whisper o’er the water-such mystery!
And His message is singing us home.
9.18.25
I was pondering recently the challenges of hearing God’s voice when I’m focused on all the noise around me–mostly virtual, mostly online–and give place to other peoples’ words they have no right to occupy. I’m aware of the challenge of keeping focused on what God has to say to me daily. I know He is always speaking, often through Creation. The image in the above poem of having to ‘dial in’ the station to hear Him occurred to me as I sat and watched the waves last month on the Washington Coast. Sound waves, actual waves, frequency…. they’re all tied together and the image stuck. The ocean’s movement is a constant presence and a picture of God’s faithfulness. His voice is always there.
As God’s children we are wired to need: 1) To get away from the noise of our daily lives, even if it’s just for a few hours or a day and 2) To quiet ourselves to hear God speak, simply by stopping to look up.
And the good news? Even when there’s interference–hello, static–even when we’re not ‘tuned in’–hello, distracted dial-spinning-God makes sure to whisper above the noise.
He’s faithful like the waves. Yes, indeed.
Frequency is one of the Rhymes for Reflection I’m gathering into a volume of poetry to be released next year. Subscribers are the first to receive these poems before the book comes out.
If you’d like to catch up on past poems–including ‘Frequency’ above–and download a lovely graphic of the poem for your Poetry Notebook, CLICK HERE for the complete Table of Contents and free graphics of the poems. Enjoy!
And if you’re not Subscribed to my email list, you can do that HERE. I write MONTHLY to subscribers offering poems, resources and encouragement.
Poetry that echoes Creation–Here’s a nudge to purchase my recent book of poems, Mining the Bright Birds. MBB is now 50% off with code CONFSHIP, and Media Mail shipping is free. Simply order from the Publisher via this link at Wipf & Stock. The price is $5.00. Buy a copy today. Buy two!
Here’s a bit more about the book from the Amazon blurb:
Ecclesiastes declares we are made for a longing towards heaven, our true home, and so we journey, often in the dark. Signposts offer safety and comfort, from the miraculous and mundane—birdsong; the somnolence of creation’s winter and the surprise of every spring; the familiar sight of a favorite chair; and the way sunlight falls in the same place each morning all help mark time as we cycle through the days. The poems in Mining the Bright Birds: Poems of Longing for Home reflect this circular, upward journey, one of changing and growth. The closer we move towards God, the more like ourselves we become. The invitation to discover our deepest longings is often a call to lean into the many ways we express ourselves—as poet or painter or simply a person whose hand holds onto the Creator’s on the pathway home. Mining the Bright Birds offers a glimmer of light to shine on the way.
Looking for some pockets of quiet poetry in the upcoming season? The Christmas holidays can get noisy (I think there’s a theme here…) and I have just the solution for your quiet time. My small chapbook “Emmanuel Poems-Verses for the Holidays” has been revised and a new volume will be available November 30th.
Readers will enjoy the 15 poem collection that quietly moves through Advent, Christmas and into Epiphany offering quiet reminders to slow down and savor the often too busy days.
Look for the announcement and a link to the print book as well as the ebook in your Inbox at the end of the month.
Where is the place you hear God the best? At the kitchen sink? In the car? On a walk? Get alone and listen then share in the Comments. I’d love to hear.