Because his life was threatened, Elijah ran away; into the sun-scorched desert he traveled for a day, till by a broom tree pausing, prayed God his life to take, then fell into deep slumber and never hoped to wake. But suddenly an angel was telling him to rise and eat the food provided before his doubting eyes. Twice nourished by this wonder, he journeyed night and day until he found at Horeb a cave where he could stay. Then from the cave God called him: "Come forth, Elijah, stand before me on this mountain for I am near at hand." Rock-splitting wind came rushing; an earthquake shook the ground; a raging fire swept after with burst of light and sound. Yet in no mighty portent could God be found or heard; but from the pregnant stillness came forth the holy word: "Why are you here, Elijah, a prophet on the run? Return and bear my message; your work is not yet done." So God still guides and guards us, still nourishes, still prods, till when we least expect it, we hear, against all odds, a voiceless, piercing summons that bids us risk and dare to claim what once we ran from and find that God is there.