The film Atonement is a romantic war drama starring James McAvoy and Keira Knightley. Based on Ian McEwan's novel of the same name, the film chronicles a crime and its consequences over the course of six decades, beginning in the 1930s. No spoilers on show here! The reason I mention it, is because the film contains one of my favourite pieces of music, Elegy For Dunkirk by Dario Marianelli, which is a truly beautiful work of orchestral majesty, into which has been inserted some of the verses of Dear Lord and Father of mankind – written by John Greenleaf Whittier – which in the film is sung by British soldiers on the beach at Dunkirk.
Dear Lord and Father of mankind consistently ranks in the top ten of hymns chosen by church goers up and down the country. It’s easy to see why, as the hymn invites us to accept the beauty of God’s peace into our lives. The hymn ends by imploring us to seek silence and selflessness in order to hear the "still, small voice", described in 1 Kings 19:11-13 as the authentic voice of God, rather than earthquake, wind or fire.
Breathe through the heats of our desire
thy coolness and thy balm;
let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
speak through the earthquake, wind, and fire,
O still, small voice of calm!
God speaks to us in many ways. Through strangers we meet by chance, through people we know, through challenging situations, in things we read and things we see. Remember the story of Samuel?
‘A third time the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”
Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
1 Samuel 3:8-10
Samuel didn’t recognise the voice of God speaking to him, and Eli had to explain to him what was happening. How often is that mirrored in our lives? God speaks in many ways – through his Word, through art, through nature, through music - and we have to discern his still, small voice of calm.
Be still, be quiet.
Is there something God is trying to say to you? Can you make space today, this week, to focus on hearing his voice, amidst the noise and chaos of daily life? Commit to a moment to reflect on all that you have seen and heard, and ask God to help you to hear his still, small voice of calm speaking to you.
Neil Chappell