Listening

Isaiah 50:4-9a

4 The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens— wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. 5 The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. 6 I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. 7 The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; 8 he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. 9 It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty?

Reflection

Listening – it’s a hard thing to do, harder then we think.  I’m sure some may think that is an odd statement, after all we are listening all the time; we hear people talking to us or around us.  We hear bits and pieces of conversations or we hear the birds chirping outside or the sound of traffic as it rushes by but, are we really listening to what is occurring in the world around us?  Are we too busy in our own lives and our own activities to really listen?  For me there are times that Stephanie or Bryon will be talking to me but I’m only half paying attention as I’m thinking about something else or trying to do something else.  I hear enough of what is being said to me to engage but yet I’m not really “tuned in” to them and, instead I’m thinking about what’s next, but, what happens when I stop that?  What happens when I put aside my thoughts and really focus and listen to what is being told to me?  Pretty simple answer to that – I learn.

This is the kind of listening that Isaiah speaks of. God is always communicating to us and trying to teach us and all we have to do is stop, and listen, and learn.  Easier said than done I know but, that is what God is asking of us!