Issue 915 – Stopped to Listen – November 21, 2022
On the weekend, Kathy and I checked out a park we hadn’t visited before. We visited the Campbell Valley Regional Park in Langley. It’s a large park with about 30km of walking trails.
We walked the Little River Loop, which circles around a part of Little Campbell River, using several boardwalks and a couple of small bridges. It is a short (2.3 km) trail that is wheelchair accessible.
The park was rich in bird life; according to one sign, there are more than 100 species resident there. We saw chickadees, nuthatches, juncos, various sparrows, flickers, mallards and more. In addition to the birds, at least two species of squirrels entertained us.
Neither birds nor squirrels were particularly timid of people at all, and many sat within touching distance from us. We watched one lady standing there with a sunflower seed in her hand, and a chickadee alighted on her hand and took the see.
At one point in the trail, we stood for fifteen minutes or more watching the birds and listening to them sing for us. Not only were most of the species listed singing in that spot, but there were also several others that we couldn’t see or identify. It was a magnificent symphony.
Most people walked past us, engrossed in their conversations and paid no attention to the songs all around them.
We sometimes do that ourselves, but rather than missing the singing birds, we miss out on God. I have often heard people say that they never hear God, but then they seldom listen.
He is there but often speaks in a whisper. The Prophet Elijah was on the run and hiding in a cave. He was feeling sorry for himself and abandoned by God.
There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” He said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” And he said, “Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:9-13
I have wondered why God so often comes to us in the quiet. Sometimes we are so busy looking for Him in spectacular signs and wonders that we miss the whisper.
It might be because He is closer to us than we realize. When someone you love is next to you, you don’t communicate in shouts and with a big ado. You are more likely to speak softly and intimately. I believe that is what God does.
His whisper isn’t an audible voice (at least for most people) but rather a sense of peace and joy that cannot be explained any other way. His whisper can come as a sense of conviction or comfort. It can bring us to tears of joy or tears of brokenness.
He is always there for us, but we must be prepared to hear. Take some quiet time today, and listen. Enjoy the discipline of silent meditation. You might hear His voice and feel His presence.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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