The quiet whisper was tangible. “Are you where you need to be?”
I knew the answer others would offer on my behalf. Even as I dogged the question, the whisper moved on to something more direct. “Are you where you want to be?”
As I wrestled with what my heart already knew, I wondered if I was losing my mind. I had no doubt that I was hearing a distinct voice. Even with the passage of time, I shut my eyes and remember the tenor, tone, and inflection of the voice. My memories tell me that I did not hear an accent, which makes me wonder. Everyone has an accent of one kind or another. My memories recall a gentleness masking the blunt confrontation. I do know that even in the contest within I was filled with peace and a sense of wonder.
Life’s speaks to us in ways we often think of as crazy. One man recalled how he “heard a voice: ‘Saul, Saul, why are you out to get me?’” (Acts 22.7) Others might think he had lost his mind. He knew what he knew. He understood the heart of the question. In hindsight, it was a Divine moment.
I returned home wondering about the voice. Was it an echo of a friend? Could I be slowly losing my grip on reality? Were greater forces at play?
As I turned on my computer and reached for my phone, I found a missed SMS, a new Skype conversation, and a tweet. Each spoke of lifting me up to God. There was nothing specific in their messages other than individual actions. My voices had a source within the extended community. Hands were supporting me. Others were reaching out to me. Compassion was a friend. Love a close companion.
I find myself letting go of the skepticism surrounding the voices. Regardless of how others might see them, I know their source. Love is powerful. It transcends distance and time. It has an odd way of showing up when needed. It is a gift we find within.
