Tuesday, March 13, 2012


"Ears" Are For Listening



"His hearing's fine.  All the tests are normal."  Our perplexity must have quickly shown on our faces.  The wise pediatrician looked at Jeff and me and replied before we questioned.  "Your son has selective hearing.  He's choosing what he wants to hear and doesn't want to hear." 

Yes.  We understood the kind doctor's words.  Our five year old son, Chris, had discovered an escape from unwanted words.  "Pick up your toys."  "Brush your teeth."  "Look at us."  Our imperative clauses were being ignored, not really unheard.

The visit to the doctor was revealing and healing.  Five year old Christopher understood he had been effective in the short term, but unwise in the long term.  A loving, short talk after leaving the pediatrician's office resolved the problem.  Our future imperatives were no longer ignored.  Chris chose to listen.


How's my hearing, Lord?

A still, small voice echoed through my soul in morning's soft light before I even pushed away warm, fuzzy blankets.  My momentary listening was soon smothered by daily demands.  The to-do's were not minimal:

Read the word with focus. 
Prepare my house for the market.
Do the church bulletin.
Fold yesterday's laundry.
Continue my 7th Year journey.
Study my Sunday school lesson.
Balance the checkbook.
Pay bills.
Care for my granddaughters.
Schedule doctors appointments.
And so on.

My lists are always written in black on the back of an index card.  Plain paper is very persuasive when its marks provide plans and structure for life.  These marks are good thoughts.  Words of needful things.

Needful:  what is essential, required, vital, imperative. 

We all have needful things.  Our conscious is too often overcrowded with what must be done.  Our Father, knowing our needs, equips us with wisdom, time, and gifts to fulfill all life asks of us.  Tasks that cry to us, body and soul.  Ideas that beg the lifting of hands, moving of feet, and investment of heart.

Yes, tasks cry. 

Their sounds are loud.  Boisterous.  RESOUNDING!

Beneath their boasts, lies the faint of still.  It is smothered, yet lives, and begs for listening.

How's my hearing, Lord? 

Teach me how to hear Your word though I am crowded with din of self and noise of life.  Teach me to savor Your whispers.  Teach me to select Your words, and to stop and embrace them, to hold them closely, write them down, meditate on them, and allow You to engrave their truth into my heart.

How's my listening, Lord?

Father, I ask for ears to hear beyond my temporal noise, for listening that will carry my soul into Your presence, and my own words to "Yes."
Grace, Friends,






A special thanks to Alicia Britt Chole, my friend and mentor, whose tireless work in The 7th Year is inspiring me to learn to hear.

"And the LORD came and called as before, 'Samuel! Samuel!'  And Samuel replied, 'Speak, your servant is listening.'”

1 Samuel 3:9-11

12 comments:

  1. Thanks for the reminder to check my "hearing" and be sure I'm not "selective" in what I hear.

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  2. I am beginning to be a better listener and I find the closer I listen the more I understand. I could not help but smile about your son's selective hearing...my grandson Nickolas did the same thing.:)

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  3. How lovely to read your words today. Hearing God is something that I try for, so hard.

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  4. What a delight it is to read another post from you.

    Selective hearing... I've heard that before. Amazing how a five year old quickly learned it.

    And your words on this post, how true. How often do I practice selective hearing with my Lord? He's calling, but I don't hear, or choose not to hear.

    Yes, like you, I want don't want to listen with selective hearing when it comes to God.

    Welcome back. You've been missed, and thought of often.

    Love
    Lidia

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  5. Andrea,

    Thank you for this beautiful post. I have such a hard time listening to God because I pay too much attention to the noise of this world. I will try to be a better listener:).

    Blessings,

    Kim

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  6. Visiting blogs tonight. So glad I dropped by to read your wisdom. Blessings to you, Andrea.

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  7. Thought-provoking post! I'm so guilty of this! You know...after you've been a Christian for so long, you wonder if you'll ever get it right! :) Thankfully, we have a long-suffering God who knows our heart!

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  8. Beautiful "listening" sister. I'm so glad to read this today... I needed it even though it was written a while ago. I'm glad you're writing again and look forward to all that God is teaching you in this 7th year. You are a beautiful soul!

    peace~elaine

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  9. Thanks for reminding me that I might have selective hearing. It's always something to watch out for.

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  10. Beautiful truth, thank you

    Ruth

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Thank you for visiting. I cherish your thoughts. You are special to me, but most of all, you are special to God, who loves you with everlasting love. May your life be swept into His joy and peace.

In the Wonderful Love of Christ our Savior,

Andrea