The Still Small Voice

Sometimes the most valuable nuggets occur when a simple stone in the pathway is overturned, a breath of wind changes your direction, or a comment is shared off-the-cuff among friends.  Such a moment occurred this week.  In a conversation with friends, this statement was made that came from a long-term and very accurate memory:

“I still remember Miss Kathryn Kuhlman’s sermon about the still small voice of God,” Aileen Wilkerson said.  She then continued in a whispering voice of respect as the conversational din among the group lowered to near silence:

“I can still see Miss Kuhlman flowing across the circular Melodyland stage in her pink flowing dress. But it wasn’t made out of chiffon as I thought it was. I think she had six of those dresses.  In her sermon you could see how much she valued the voice of God and how many times it took the distraction of an earthquake and wind to recognize the importance of the still small voice.”

“I want all of you to see this video that I took at Melodyland,” Dr. Ralph Wilkerson interjected.  “It is of Miss Kuhlman responding to the laughter of God when it came upon the people that were healed by the Holy Spirit.”

Wilkerson’s daughter Debbie, who is quite an electronic wizard in her own right, quickly flipped on the video. There before our eyes was Kathryn Kuhlman giggling on the stage of Melodyland with Ralph Wilkerson standing beside her. Suddenly Miss Kuhlman backed away from the two microphones and gingerly sat on a chair behind her, still laughing with the lady who was just healed.

“With such an attractive personality she almost looks like a princess,” my wife Sandy commented.

As the video continued Miss Kuhlman suddenly jumped back up to the two microphones that were on the stage. Sandy put her hand over her face and giggled as she said, “Look! Miss Kuhlman is trying to cover both microphones with her hands. She looks socute.”

“We were broadcasting live over the radio so Miss Kuhlman didn’t know if the radio audience should hear the laughter or not,” Bro. Wilkerson commented. “Remember, this was the 60’s and things like laughter were never heard of in church. But notice she takes her hands off the microphones and gives a look of, ‘Okay, Holy Spirit, I will let them hear whatever You want them to hear.’ That is her listening to the still small voice of God.”

The scene that was just played out before the group that was present was awe-inspiring because of its delicacy, and the rarity of seeing such precise observation of such a great woman patriarch of God ~ and also hearing the insight from such intimate friends as the Wilkersons. Gershom Sikaala then broke the silence.

“When I was 9 1/2 years old and was living with my grandparents, I was offended so deeply by something that was said to me by a perturbed and distraught relative.  It troubled me so much that I ran aimlessly out of the house and into the African bush. I cried out for God or someone, whomever, to help me. It was out of that trouble and despair that I saw Jesus. I knew it was Jesus and I knew that He was truly my best friend.  It was the gentleness, quietness, and stillness that gave me security in knowing that He was the one person I could always depend on.”

At that point I saw a slight tear run down the corner of Gershom’s eye.  Since then I have learned that the more I obey the still small voice the more frequently and loudly He speaks. But if I choose to disobey or ignore Him I don’t even notice He is gone.