Tuned In

As some of you know, I have been trying to collect information about M's grandparents and their work in Africa, where they were missionaries from the 1940's thru the 1970's.  Well, recently, some writings from the missionaries who were out there at the time have been sent my way.  I have been reading a lot and all of it has been both challenging and encouraging to me.  This particular article, written by an American nurse in Africa, has been particularly challenging to me so I thought I would share it with you all.  I hope you find it serves your walk!

Tuned In – by Gudrun Stenoien

Today above the deafening din of half a hundred screaming babies I heard the clear sweet song of a single bird in the tall tree top.  Last night at a most unusual hour I was awakened by the persistent call of another.  Birds have always been here and singing.  Why should I now suddenly become so aware of them no matter where or when?

I know why.  For several days I have been intent upon recording the various bird calls in this area.  First I recorded the song of the sunbird that comes so regularly to our windowsill to sing.  Not so simply did I isolate others, and the pompous honk of the crown bird is yet to be recorded.  This current extracurricular activity of mine has brought to my attention more realistically the peculiar faculty of the ear to hear that which one is eager and waiting to hear.

Mothers, nurses, you’ve experienced this.  How sensitive you are to the least irregularity of breathing, the faintest whimper, the cry from the one entrusted to your love and care!  Here at the station we’ve so often gone to bed and perhaps fitfully to sleep expecting to be called during the night.  Long before the clap at the door, we have heard the approaching foot-steps on the sand.

My experience is that whatever concerns my heart and mind, that is what my ears are most ready to hear – even those things I’ve heard before, yet not really heard.  So it is that I am aware of a song, a voice, a cry – because I am listening for it.

How keen is our hearing as it relates to the voice of God?  Are we so occupied with Him that hearing His voice is the most natural thing? David the Psalmist says: Today, oh that ye would hear His voice (Ps 95:7). 

His Voice:

Speaking life-giving words: “Hear and your soul shall live” (Is 55:3); 

Speaking peace: “These things have I spoken that in Me ye may have peace” (Jn 16:33); 

Speaking directions: “Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee saying, this is the way, walk ye in it…”(Is 30:21); 

Speaking encouragement: “For I, Jehovaah thy God, will hold thy right hand saying unto thee, ‘Fear not, I will help thee’” (Is 41:13); 

Speaking commands: “Ye shall be my witnesses…unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8) and go ye therefore…” (Matt 28:19).

But maybe we are not hearing these commands.  We don’t always hear so well what we do not want to hear.  Perhaps we are afraid it will cost us something.  David says of this: “Neither will I offer brunt-offerings of anything that cost me nothing” (2 Sam 24:24).  Are we reluctant to hear that we are primarily for His pleasure – not so much He for ours – and that our lives are to be completely surrendered to Him so that whether by life or death we live or die to His glory? (Phil 1:20)

Today we can will to either listen to or ignore His voice, but one day soon when “the Lord Himself descends from heaven with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God” (1 Thess 4:16), everyone, without choice, without exception, shall hear His voice.  To some He will then say, Come ye blessed of my Father…; to others He will have to say, “Depart from me, ye cursed…” (Matt 25:34,41).

Today, oh that ye would hear his voice!