Search
for the LORD and His strength; continually seek His face. Psalms 105:4
It is clear that we
are usually surrounded by so much inner and outer noise that it is hard to
truly hear our God when God is speaking to us. We have often become deaf,
unable to know when God calls us and unable to understand in which direction
God calls us. Thus our lives have become absurd. In the world “ absurd” we find
the Latin word surdis, which means “deaf.”
A spiritual life
requires discipline because we need to learn to listen to God, who constantly
speaks but whom we seldom hear. When, however, we learn to listen, our lives
become obedient lives. The word “obedient” comes from the Latin word audire,
which means “listening.” A spiritual discipline is necessary in order to move
slowly from an absurd to an obedient life, from a life filled with noisy
worries to a life in which there is some free inner space where we can listen
to our God and follow God’s guidance. Jesus’ life was a life of obedience. He
was always listening to the Father, always attentive to His voice, always alert
for His directions. Jesus was “all ear.” That is true prayer: being all ear for
God. The core of all prayer is indeed listening, obediently standing in the
presence of God. Henri Nouwen, Making
All Things New
So I did the walk around Reid Park thing this morning. The
same old, same old, yearning to become new. The scuttling quail, like so many
little sea crabs. The hawk so close overhead I can almost reach out to touch
it. The callings of the peacocks from behind the zoo walls. The bursting red
cactus apples. But mostly, I smiled and said hello to the dozens of people
joining me in this early morning, before-the-heat-of-the-day walk. Pilgrims
really. Each one choosing to get out of bed, slip on worn shoes and head out
the door to a day with both very well-known hard hills that need to be climbed
and curves leading into the equally unknown.
And yes, even here at home, I heard His voice: I love that one, the one with the University
of California Berkeley t-shirt and that one too, pushing a stroller with a sleeping
baby. And that older Japanese couple with big floppy hats. And Mr. Armet on his
bicycle. Each is beloved, not because of the choices chosen, the feelings
felt, or the actions taken, but because I AM Love. And you, my child, are to
love because I first loved you, from the beginning of time.
And really, that is all I ask of you. To love Me and
likewise, in the same heartbeat, love your neighbor.
And on the plane I was reflecting on another Nouwen writing,
about the characteristics of the blessed
ones is that, wherever they go, they always speak words of blessing. It is
remarkable how easy it is to bless others, to speak good things to and about
them, to call forth their beauty and truth when you yourself are in touch with
your own blessedness. The blessed one always blesses. And people want to be
blessed! This is so apparent where you go. No one is brought to life through
curses, gossip, accusations, or blaming. There is so much of that taking place
around us all the time. And it calls forth only darkness, destruction, and
death. As the “blessed ones,” we can walk through this world and offer
blessings. It doesn’t require much effort. It flows naturally from our hearts.
When we hear within ourselves the Voice calling us by name and blessing us, the
darkness no longer distracts us. The Voice that calls us the Beloved will give
s words to bless others and reveal to them that they are no less blessed than
we. Life of the Beloved.
Does
a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? James 3:11
And there was a little Everette-curled girl who was loading
up onto the plane with her two dads. And as soon as she got on the plane she
squirmed and wiggled, and her dad who was holding her asked, “Do you want to
say hello to the people?” and she replied with an eager nod. She slipped out of
his arms and walked down the aisle with a huge smile and a huge hello, and one
at a time she blessed each and every settling hassled weary squished soul. And
each one could not but help return her smile and her hello. And it was a
beautiful thing. Spreading joy and peace, blessing, down an without-an-empty-seat
American Airlines aisle.
And Tracy and I, grandmas that we are, watched a lot of
equally beautiful children throughout our ride through Europe. And again and
again we understood why we are to come to Him as little children.
Little children at rest in His love.
But
I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a
weaned child is my soul within me.
Selah.
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