He who has ears to hear, let him hear. Matthew 11:15
Anyone who travels by plane knows that part of the flight experience is the safety message given shortly before takeoff. This is when you’re reminded where the exits are, how to use the seat belt, and what to do with the air mask should it be needed. This is, of course, important information to know. But how many passengers are really listening to it? Sadly, not many.
I know, because I’ve done it plenty of times. I’m sitting there while the flight attendant is reviewing the safety procedures. I know words are being spoken, but I’m not actually hearing them. I’m looking out the window or figuring out how I can survive the next few hours in a seat designed for a six-year old. So the message is being given, but I’m not getting it. Unfortunately, this isn’t the only place where this happens.
Sometimes my wife is talking to me. Again, the words are being heard, but I’m not listening to them. Unless I’m delusional, I don’t think I’m making a conscious choice not to listen. Instead I might be watching the TV. Or I’m doing something on my I-pad. Could be many things. But at the moment she speaks, I’m not listening – which, by the way, isn’t a good thing. Just saying.
And then there’s God. He has a word for me as well. However, just like it is in the previous examples, I find myself hearing His words but not hearing them at the same time.
So I have not a hearing problem but a listening problem. And I don’t think I’m alone in this. Many of us have a listening problem. Why? We’re distracted by all the noise around us. We have ear buds in place to listen to our music. We have cell phones with us 24/7. Add to that TV shows, streaming video and just the everyday background noise of traffic, lawnmowers, and more. As the Grinch put it, “noise, noise, noise” is everywhere.
But there’s more to noise than just the audible sounds coming at us as significant as that is. I’m also talking about the inner noise we all have. This noise comes from all the things we have to do, the problems we’re facing, or the ongoing mental processing of life as it comes to us.
All of this collective noise keeps us from listening in general and listening to God in particular. So what do we do about it? We have to lessen the noise. This is where times of solitude and silence come into view. These are moments when we intentionally turn off all of the outside sources of noise and stay still long enough for some of the inner noise to settle. Then we are in a position to hear, really hear what God is wanting to say to us.
Yes, God is speaking. And His words are life-giving and powerful in more ways than we can imagine. May we who have ears to hear, hear this invitation from God.