If I ever take a trip across the ocean, I plan on learning at least the basics of the language. After all, I don't want to look like one of those Americans. I have heard many speak of our immigrants (legal or not) in a way that says they must speak English or get out. Well, that's not what this post is about. But it is about knowing how to speak and how to listen.
I know my kids. I know how to speak to them to get them to understand what I want them to understand. I also know how to listen and speak to what they need to hear in a certain time and situation. There is never a solid answer with kids. In this way, God knows our languages and our tones. I'm always in awe of the story of the tower of Babel. Due to man's pride, God scattered people across the lands, and each with a different speech so they could no longer communicate easily with one another. That story is only made more remarkable when paired with the Pentacost. Now, the Holy Spirit acts as an interpreter and uses man to interpret different speeches so as to better communicate. He takes it full circle from understanding to confusing, to back to capable of understanding in circumstance. Okay, those of you that know the Bible are going, "Wow, that was horribly basic in explanation and there is so much more to that than what you are letting on." I know. But for this moment, I think this is just fine. God is the God of communication. Genesis says that he used to walk the Garden of Eden with Adam. He gave Adam a wife for teamwork, communication, and companionship. There is nothing more beautiful than to communicate with God. I found it amazing that the timing of this post matched up so well- Last year during a hurricane scare, I wrote about my prayers with God and listening to his voice to guide me and my family for the safest plan in the hurricane. Many of you know that Saturdays I spend my mornings at the Summerville Farmer's Market. I sell copies of my books and make great connections. This summer has been a summer of rainy markets. If I was selling vegetables, I wouldn't mind, but paper and rain don't mix. So each week I watch the forecast. Of course, it never matters. Friday night I saw that it was supposed to rain from 5am Saturday until about 2pm. Ugh. That pretty much meant a wet and useless market. I decided not to cancel until it was closer to opening time. Saturday morning, I woke up and listened. I didn't hear any rain. I went for my typical morning run. It was slow, but at least it was happening. As I turned south on a street, I saw a flash of lightning on a cloud in the distance. Poop. Immediately after, I saw a shooting star. Woah. I felt God saying, "Don't worry. I got you." So, I prayed. "Lord, do I need to stay home from the market?" Now in the course of less than a quarter mile, I was wondering if that beautiful shooting star was really God on my side or my imagination. And my mind wouldn't shut up! My prayers were less about asking the question and more about asking God to clear my mind so I could hear him instead of my own sour voice. Finally, my mind started singing!! "Should I stay or should I go?" I went into my house feeling like a failure. Not only was I worried about whether the weather would hold up, I was also doubting my communication with God. I was frustrated that I couldn't stop my brain enough to listen. We loaded up the car anyway. I drove off to clear skies ahead. As I drove away I thought, maybe I should have just taken the shooting star like I had initially. Maybe God does, in fact, have my back today. Outside of my neighborhood, I began scanning the radio for some music. The first song that comes on is - Well, take a guess. Do it. Did you guess it? Yup, that's right. "Should I Stay or Should I Go." How cool is my GOD?! He knew in that moment to communicate with me through music as he has time and time again. I doubted because for some reason I still think that God doesn't want to meet me where I am. I can be pretty dumb sometimes. And guys, seriously, how did I miss it? God will communicate with each of us in different ways. He does it because we are not the same. He shows us just how intimately he knows each and every one of us. Perhaps we need to listen more to recognize it.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorI have a lot to say about a lot of things. Archives
May 2023
Categories |