Friday 16 November 2007

More about listening to the voice of God from Brian Blount.



...the human spirit is a kind of inner ear. It is the instrument upon which the reverberations of God's voice make their impact. It is the human spirit that translates what our eyes see, our fingers touch, our noses smell, our bodies experience, and our ears do not hear in the voice of God. That is why even though God does not talk in a way we are accustomed to hearing others talk, we are able to listen to God.



There is a hearing that is at the very heart of our lives. It is a hearing tuned to the vast and expansive grace of our God who is always bringing us home - all of us - forever and ever. I think this is that inner ear...that spirit. Unfortunately, there are so many ways we do not use this ear. Rather, there are other sounds that grab us before we can hear what is so vital to life within God's Reign. At the same time, this voice that grabs at our inner ear is never drowned out by the other voices around us. It continues to call out to us and woo us even when we are actively living according to other voices. This could be why we can find comfort in the middle of the worst days of our lives. For even as the powers of the day overwhelm us and make us deaf to any new word, this voice does not stop and this voice enters our souls beneath that which deafens us. The human spirit is aware of the voice of wholeness and peace and rest and justice and hope even when the voice is not audible...even when it appears to have been silenced. That is why in the middle of hopeless time, there are people who hear that voice and begin to offer it to others. Maybe that is what a prophet is - someone who hears it all and then...translates it into many other languages so that it touches those of us who have difficulty hearing. And yet, our spirit is available to the renewing and revolutionary words that God never stops offering to us.



Connection: Pay attention to that voice that may simple play with our hearts and lead us in a way we did not anticipate when the day started.



Spirit of the Living God, we continue to listen and yet we do not always hear you call to move and live and dance within your Reign. When we are caught up in the powers of the day, catch us up within your promises so that we can be refreshed by your Holy Wind. Amen.