One of my favorite moments of the day in the change of season is when I open the back door in the morning to let our dog out. How many birds will I hear? At first, there are a few chirpings here and there, but it gradually builds to an array of constant chatter. I love the sound of the world becoming alive again. What are they saying? Have they spotted a juicy worm finally coming to the surface in the softening ground or are they calling for a sweet partner to help fill a nest? Maybe both? We might miss the beautiful intricacies and intertwined life in the spring that God has created if we do not listen.
How often do we take the time to really listen? We move at such a fast pace, and there is constant noise in our world and in our heads that distract us. God wants us to listen but also have the wisdom to discern if what we hear deepens our faith or takes us further from our life in Christ. Finding the balance of listening to a constant bombardment of 24 hours of social media or news and listening to your child or spouse talk about their day should not be a difficult choice but many times it is. Our own agendas seem to drown out opportunities to love others by simply listening.
“Incline your ear, and come to me; listen that you may live…” Isaiah 55:3. When we listen with our hearts set on Jesus, we move to living more fully in the life of abundance that God offers. If we start by listening to where God is calling us, we will be able to better hear what is going on with and through people. We all long to be heard and known. What if you gave the gift of truly listening to someone today? How might that profoundly change you and them?
As I was writing this and thinking of the birds, I began to contemplate about the real science behind their early morning chatter. Do I google or ponder? At least for now, I am going to continue to enjoy the start of my day by wondering and discerning how to really listen in the fullness of God’s amazing creation.
God’s peace,
Angie Seiller, Director of Faith Formation