LEARNING TO LISTEN

“There is indeed good and there is indeed evil, and both walk the earth. But good has little to do with the forms of religion, and evil has as little to do with so much behavior condemned by religion. Both good and evil vie for the passions of the heart...”  Ted Dekker, Immanuel's Veins

Awhile back I found myself experiencing quite a bit of confusion. Not only could I not make up my mind on difficult issues, I was finding it increasingly difficult to make a decision even in the little things. Confusion would muddle my thoughts. This went on for a time then I found I was having trouble hearing God speak to me and realized that what I was experiencing might be more than just "getting older". The fear I had previously battled was finding it easier to slip in and stay awhile. I asked God to show me what was going on then waited for his answer. The answer came unexpectedly and in an unusual manner.


EYES THAT SEE...EARS THAT HEAR

"For what you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing: it also depends on what sort of person you are."  C.S. Lewis (The Magician's Nephew (Chronicles of Narnia, #6))


For those of you who believe that I'm just being silly or whimsical in what I'm about to tell you, I urge you to rethink the way you believe God relates to us. His answers/discussions with us don't always have to be in the form of written words. He tells us stories, answers our questions and hides treasures for us every single day. Sometimes you need to put that book down, turn off that video, leave your phone at home and just go take a walk. That is exactly what I did that day...not expecting anything other than an enjoyable walk with my dog. But God had a hidden treasure waiting for me. I just had to be diligent to see, hear and believe.

HIDDEN TREASURE

It was a beautiful sunny day. As usual, Lily was running as far ahead of me as her leash would allow. All of a sudden, off to my left, I was assaulted with the loudest squawking I had ever heard. Really loud. Needless to say, it grabbed my attention immediately. I jerked around and saw a jet black crow sitting at the very top of a pine tree. All of a sudden, it stopped making any sound and just froze. 

At this point, Lily and I had come to the corner where we would turn and walk the upper loop of our little town home area. As I got to the place where we usually head up the hill, I saw something out of the corner of my eye. I looked to my right, and there...sitting at the very top of another pine tree (just like the crow)...was a hawk. He too, was perfectly still. Both the hawk and the crow were totally silent; as if frozen. However, Lily had discovered the scent of  yet another rabbit so off we went around the upper loop. 

As we rounded the last corner on the loop, I looked up and stopped in my tracks. The crow and the hawk were still frozen....not a single feather moved on either body. I had one of those time-is-standing-still-so-pay-attention moments and asked God to show me what it was he wanted me to see. 

Instantly my eyes went to the trees the two birds where perched upon. The crow's tree looked full and green from the bottom. If you were passing under the tree, you would think it healthy, pretty and easy to climb.  However, once committed to that climb, it wouldn't take long for you to discover that the healthy green limbs were merely a bait-and-switch tactic. As you climbed further and further to the top, very little life could be found in the tree. And once you finally arrived to the point where the crow was perched, the tree was completely dead; limbs twisted and ugly...completely devoid of any life.

The tree of the hawk was directly to the right. This tree also looked full, green and healthy. However, unlike the crow's tree, the limbs of this tree were a bit more difficult to reach. They started higher up the tree so that if you wanted to climb this tree, you would have to make an effort to reach the first limb. But once you found yourself on that first limb, you realized it was a worthwhile climb. The branches were full and healthy. Sturdy. 

Then God spoke to me and this time I had no trouble hearing him. 

CROW vs HAWK

I'm sure you've already realized the crow is the enemy. The enemy does everything he can to be heard first. He is loud and in-your-face but always manages to look attractive. What he presents to you often looks exactly the same as what God offers; until you climb up a few branches and see reality.

God, of course, is represented by the hawk. The hawk is not a "talkative" creature. Yet, when it does "speak", it's cry cuts through the loud, raucous noise of the crow every time. When you hear the piercing cry of the hawk, you know exactly what it is. No confusion. 

Compare the two trees. The tree with the hawk had branches that were hard to reach. Crazy even to try. It would take courage to reach for that first branch but once you were firmly planted on it, you knew you were treading on sturdy, solid branches. Safe. 

The tree of the crow appeared easier to climb. It seemed very logical to pick that tree over the hawk's tree. Practical. Reasonable. It wasn't until you reached the black, decaying branches that you realized you'd listened to a lie. Too late it dawned on you that the branches underneath you couldn't hold your weight. You had been betrayed.


WIND OR WHISPER

" 'Go out and stand before me on the mountain,' the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper." 1 Kings 19:11-12 NLT

God gave me a visual lesson that day. He showed me how the Crow will always attempt to be heard over the Hawk. The enemy will always attempt to drown out what God is wanting to say to me. But if I will just be still before him... God's voice will win out. So when confusion and fear come my way; when I can't figure out which way to turn... I won't panic. I won't try to manage the situation. I won't envision every possible scenario so that I can be prepared and ready for whatever may come my way. Instead.... I must be still. I must listen for the cry that pierces the heart. I must listen...and obey...the gentle whisper.