The Village ILWIDIot

Walt Wiltschek 

“This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: ‘A voice of one calling in the wilderness, “Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.”’.” —Matthew 3:3, NIV 

One evening during our middle school week at Camp Emmaus last month, we encountered “John the Baptist”—brilliantly played by camp manager Randall Westfall—out in the woods. As the campers drew near on their hike, shouts of “Repent!” and “Prepare the way!” could be heard, faintly at first and then with growing force as we drew closer.

A cell phone text from the counselor leading the hike was to alert Randall when we were getting near, but the technological unpredictability of being out at camp meant they didn’t have a good signal, and they lost communication. So, not wanting to miss us, Randall spent the better part of a half hour shouting into the trees as he awaited our arrival.

Ever feel like that sometimes—like you’re calling out into the world and nobody is there to hear you? I expect God feels rather like that sometimes, too, watching incredulously as words and wonders sail right by us, unnoticed.

Earlier in the camp week, the staff were all asked to introduce ourselves by sharing our name and our favorite way to “be still”—the theme for the opening day, drawn from the Psalms. When my turn came, I had to admit I really don’t like to be still, at least not for long. It’s hard for me to have unoccupied time. While I enjoy being in nature, simply sitting and listening don’t come easily for me.

I’m a big fan of the Disney-Pixar films, and recently I re-encountered one titled “Luca.” Set in Italy, it tells the story of two young “sea monsters” who discover they appear human when they come out of the water. One of them has doubts as he tries to adapt to his new identity, and his friend tells him a secret: Whenever doubts fill his mind, he calls out “Silenzio, Bruno!” (Quiet down, Bruno!), as “Bruno” is the name he gives to the negative voices in his mind. Once those quiet down, then he can find the way forward to do something new or beyond his comfort zone.

Perhaps many of us need that reminder, to silence not just the negative voices but also all the other “stuff” that whirs through our mind at any moment: Quiet! Pipe down! What word for us might be out there that we’re missing? What doubts and distractions in our minds might be keeping us from hearing the divine whisper—or shout—in the woods?