Hear the words, miss the meaning?

Have you ever been caught up in one of those ‘conversations’ where the connection just isn’t happening?  It can hilarious or infuriating!  Yesterday, I told Bev that I was taking her GPS unit on a trip with me. She heard the words but stared back at me blankly. “Why do you need two of them?” she asked.  “Jay will have mine,” I replied. She still looked confused.  I was talking about taking her unit with me to use in the rental car at my destination! She thought I was talking about using it in my car which already has one in it.   

If people trying to talk do not put the words into the same context, they miss the meaning.  After a few sentences somebody needs to say, “Hold on, let’s  get on the same page.”  A pause to think, to shake off preconceptions, often clarifies the meaning. What often happens is that people just keep on talking, getting louder as their frustration grows.  

Have you lost the art of listening?  In this world, we crank up the volume, go for bolder and brighter colors, buy ever bigger TV screens- and - lose the ability to hear.  This can have terrible and tragic consequences when it comes to listening to the Lord.  He is speaking but are we listening?  If we hear Him, have we the kind of quiet mind that is able to comprehend the message that comes in  “the still, small voice of God?”   I fear that too often, in those moments when we do become aware of His Presence, instead of growing still before Him,  we open our mouths to make noise!   Incapable of wonder, we think, "somebody quick say something, sing something, do something!"  Richard Foster, a man whose understanding of Christianity has shaped my own in many ways, observes "Our Adversary majors in three things: noise, hurry and crowds. If he can keep us engaged in "muchness" and "manyness," he will rest satisfied."   - Celebration of Discipline

We need to 'hear' the admonition of God that came to a man who didn't know enough about awe to keep his mouth shut and his ears open!   Here's the story. 
"After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah." While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"
When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don’t be afraid."  (Matthew 17:1-7, NIV)

Dear Peter, how I love him!   I wonder, would I have done the same dumb thing? Would I have felt the need to interrupt the holy silence with some inane comment?

The ancient prophet declares, "God is in his holy Temple! Quiet everyone—a holy silence. Listen!" (Habakkuk 2:20, The Message)    Just so we're clear,  His holy temple is not St. Patrick's or any other church building.   We, Christian, are His holy Temple.  When we sense the Spirit moving in us - be it in corporate worship, standing on a mountain, or in the company of a suffering saint - an appropriate response is to grow still;  to allow awe to overwhelm us.

Here’s a word from the Word.

"LORD, I have heard of your fame;
I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD.
Renew them in our day, in our time make them known;
in wrath remember mercy." (Habakkuk 3:2, NIV)

Today, make some space in all the 'noise' of your life to listen.   Invite the Spirit to speak to your need, to bring direction, to whisper assurance. Then, be quiet!  

Like Elijah, you will find that in the quietness, the small voice of God whispers a great big message of assurance to your soul.

__________________________________

I am Thine, O Lord,

I have heard Thy voice,

and it told Thy love to me.

But I long to rise

in the arms of faith,

and be closer drawn to Thee.

Oh the pure delight

of single hour that before

Thy Throne I spend,

When I kneel in prayer,

and with Thee, My God,

I commune as friend with Friend.

Draw me nearer,

nearer, Blessed Lord,

to the cross where Thou hast died,

Dear me nearer,

nearer, Blessed Lord,

to Thy precious bleeding side.

Fanny Crosby-  Public Domain