A son of God, devoted husband, father and minister, I have served churches and para-church ministries for more than 15 years. Passionate about exploring and engaging the riches of faith and culture, I love to lead and serve communities of faith, equipping and inspiring them to shape and serve wider communities.
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One of my great joys is listening to my daughter wake and greet the day. I hear her laughter, even her smiling. She talks and sings as she explores the potential that lies ahead of her…as she waits to see who will walk through the door of her room, to help her begin her day. Perhaps she is telling the world about the dreams she dreamed or the hopes she hopes.
Proclaiming in babble tongue and baby song this unintelligible, but obviously good, news to her world.
If you have breath in your lungs or a smile on your face…
If you have the ability to walk or to sit upright…
If you can hold a hand or make a phone call…
Or even just listen…
You. Are. Able.
Photo Credit: “Old Man” by rubybgold (Creative Commons)You may not feel able, but you are.
Life might be rough and tough. You probably go through days, months and seasons of life when you feel anything but able. Others might look at you and wonder if you are up to the challenge.
Or look right past you, never realizing the challenges you face.
I’ve been there. Have you?
Every member of the flock matters. Each of you and all of you matter. Every one of you!
It’s that simple. And it’s that important.
You know that story about a shepherd who left 99% of his flock to go and find a single lost sheep? (Luke 15:3-7, Matthew 18:12-14)
Photo Credit: “Lost Sheep” by simonella_virus (Creative Commons)Or the one about a person who sold all that he had in order to buy a field where he found a priceless treasure? (Matthew 13:44)
Or the one about a traveler who saved the life of a beaten, helpless stranger on the road between Jericho and Jerusalem? (Luke 10:30-37)
Or the one about a father who runs out to meet the son who left with disrespect and returned in disgrace, clothing him in love? (Luke 15:11-32)
Or the one about…?
That’s not just rhetoric. It’s the beating heart of God on display.
“Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” (Luke 8:8)
With these words of Christ, Scripture calls us to a kind of spiritual listening that requires more than just having ears. Our ears aren’t meant just for decoration. This kind of spiritual listening is an active discipline, an active practice.
Photo Credit: “My Listening Ears” by niclindh (Creative Commons)We hear. We listen. God speaks.
And as we listen, we learn to recognize the voice of God.
