BY: KELLEY CHONG

Having been raised, so to speak, in the holiness and charismatic traditions of the church, I have historically approached hearing God’s voice with a particular posture. God’s words and ways are powerful, spoken out of a cloud or from fire on the altar. The immediate effect that this type of ministry can have on a person’s heart and mind is incredibly transformative; healing, miracles, signs, and wonders abound, but one of the perils of only responding to God in such a way, is an inability to recognize Him in the ‘normal’ joys and trials of daily lived experience. After years of climbing to the heights in God, while carrying the everyday in my strength, my soul was exhausted and crying out for rest.

I was gazing at a picture of a mother and child baking during our year 2 class, Soul Shaping Discernment, when a simple revelation began to tug at my heart corners. I was invited into a new way of relating to God’s voice and direction. I mused on the truth that the young child could only hope to accomplish her task with the gentle, wise, and experienced guidance of her mother. Being so focused on the prize, she rests happily in the instructions, having complete confidence that they share a common goal – that of tasting and seeing something good. This goodness has been tasted before, so the child can take the process, or ‘recipe’, completely for granted and freely make a mess. Egg shells might fall in the batter, chocolate may end up all over the floor or on fingers, but the cake can still be shared in the end with a joyful, “well done!”.  

Listening for God’s voice in a simple, childlike way draws us to participate in what He is doing, even if we don’t know what we are doing, or, really, even hearing. He is delighted by our fumbling steps to join the process of fellowship with Him, even though we don’t know precisely what the outcome of our small, meek offerings may be. In truth, His goodness and grace catalyze our desire to hear, and He acts like he has all of the time in this world and the next to lavish his attention on our formation.

This Visio Divina had a profound effect on me, and continues to speak an invitation to wonder with God. Why do You delight in my chaotic, untidy, tumbling soul at Your table? Do You speak from the bubbles in the dishwater?

What else can we make and taste? I have noticed there is a lighter cadence of conversation in the scriptures; a voice that stirs the breezes gently, harmonizing with the deep, mysterious tones of histories and prophesies. Lately, I have heard that Moses became a friend of God, not just an instrument to display His power. David danced in His presence for fun, not only as a prophetic act. Jesus cooked breakfast for His friends with a twinkle in His eye, before the work of restoration. Relational words and playful ideas fill my ear, as I have mused that a happy monk learns to work and play. “Let’s chat; let’s dance; let’s cook and eat; is the emphasis of God’s voice these days.

And I must admit, it catches me so easily into the presence of the Holy. Like a mother picking up her child, I am carried up, up, up – full and satisfied - away from the cares and the crumbs of performance and production. The Lord of the glory cloud, calling souls to the altar of repentance, has also become Lord of the kitchen that asks for cake.

 “God himself speaks every day and in every place to all the eyes of men.”

–George Berkely

Kelley Chong has travelled throughout east Asia with her family sharing Christ through home education, the arts, and building houses of prayer. As a recent graduate of Emmaus, Kelley hopes to explore the intersection of the arts and spiritual formation, and companion those longing to express their inner journey with God creatively. She resides on Vancouver Island with her husband, her adult children and can be found around her big table with a multitude of coffee drinking, Jesus-hungry young adults.