This past June, I took the first course on my journey down the old roads. I began my doctoral studies. On the second day, our professor asked for a volunteer to lead the morning devotional the next day and I heard myself say, “I will.”
This is what arose from my heart and, of course (smiling now), would come to have quite an effect…completely unforeseen…
I am the One called by many names.
Be Still.
Listen.
I am as close as your breath and as dear as your heartbeat.
Be Still.
Listen.
You will hear Me on the wind, echoing through all faith traditions.
In Hinduism…
You will hear me in the great OM
For, here, all My sounds reside.
In Buddhism…
You will hear me in OM MANI PADMI HUNG
For I am the jewel in the heart of the lotus.
It is because of Me you blossom, not in spite of, but because of.
In Judaism…
You will hear me in SHEMA YISRAEL ADONAI ELOHEINU ADONAI EHAD
For I AM the Lord Thy God and we are One.
In Sikhism…
You will hear me in EK ONG KAR SAT NAM SIRI WAHE GURU
For I am the True Wisdom bringing you from darkness to light.
In Islam & Sufism…
You will hear me in LA IL LA HA IL LA ALLAH
For when you know Me, you know there is nothing but God.
In Christianity…
You will hear me in A’BWOON D’BWASHMAYA
For I am the Formless One bringing form to all creation.
I am the One called by many names.
Be Still.
Listen.
I am as close as your breath and as dear as your heartbeat.
Be Still.
Listen.
You will hear Me on the wind, echoing through all faith traditions.
The next day, we were each asked to present our project idea. How excited I was as this I was quite sure of (smiling again). But, my professor had already heard something else. To my heart’s utterly unexpected surprise and delight, she thoughtfully reflected that what she suspected I was really interested in was the sound current (her words) of which the Aramaic words of Jesus were one example. She then suggested I focus my project on this sound current and offer the Aramaic words of Jesus as a case study within the project.
I think I forgot to breathe. Suddenly, I could see the old roads leading me exactly to the place my heart knew best.
Now, in the stillness of my meditations, I can hear the sound current whispering…
Come…and I will lead you to where ‘all’ the old roads meet. The place from where I first loved you into birth and to where you will return at the journey’s end.
To My Alpha and My Omega…to My world without end…
Be still…listen…you will hear Me on the wind, echoing through all faith traditions…
Be still…listen…and you will know that I am God.
Stephanie Rutt 