Grace 'n Grounds

The TV is blaring. The dog is barking in the background. Vacuum cleaner is roaring. Your phone is dinging and pinging. It is hard to get away from all the noise.

But-it is actually what Jesus commands.

Sure, it was probably much easier for Jesus. No phones. No vacuum cleaners. No TV. Yet, in the call to become more like Jesus, we begin to practice His ways. One of these is quiet.

In the times of Jesus, sound was used as a primary tool for survival. The brains of our ancestors were fine-tuned for hunting and traveling in the wild. As civilization evolved, wilderness transformed into cities, and rustling bushes morphed into planes, trains, and automobiles. Our brains became accustomed to all the background noise, so much so that we have adapted to it.

While we can filter out threats from general, every day noise; we have become a little too used to all the noise that makes up our day to day lives. It is now harder to detect a real threat, and also for us to quiet our minds (and devices) long enough to hear small, less audible sounds.

Like the still, small voice of God.

As I trekked out on my morning walk earlier this week, I had no choice but to be and think about what it means to be quiet. While I find it easier when away to take leisurely strolls along the shoreline, I also usually take my headphones and my workout playlist.

On this day, my headphones were chilling hundreds of miles away, and my backups were taking a break to recharge.

So I walked. And listened. No background music to put pep in my step. Just me. The waves. The gulls. And Jesus.

I could actually hear the wind. Hear the shore and the ocean coming together. Kids laughing and splashing in the distance. And the small voice that whispered to me: “Did you really need those headphones? Could they actually be a distraction?”

I encourage you, as Jesus encouraged his disciples long before all the background noise became a part of life, to go somewhere quiet and simple listen.

Listen for the birds chirping.

The trees rustling.

The wind blowing.

Simply listening until you hear the voice of God.