August 10, 2014:

Ponderings of a Pilgrim Pastor

I don’t know how it is for you, but I always feel more than a little skeptical when a television preacher announces: “God spoke to me and told me to tell you . . .” Often God seems to want us to send money to this “ministry.” Other people hear other messages from God. While I find some of them thoughtful, too often they are reflections of the needs and desires of those who believe God has spoken to them. Still, I wonder: how can you and I hear the voice of God?

I have always believed that the voice of God is like the still, small voice heard by Elijah. I like another translation of those words which says God spoke to Elijah with a “voiceless voice.” Elijah was able to hear that voiceless voice after hearing to the overwhelming sounds of a tornado, a raging forest fire, and a massive earthquake. Then there was a sound of sheer silence.

Hearing God’s voice requires shutting away the distracting voices all around us and listening for that silent voice with a heart willing to accept and follow what God has to say to us. How do we do that? Let the noise of life be silent until we sense God’s presence very near to us. How long will this take? Probably longer than we may feel comfortable But we must not stop listening.

There is an old one-liner commenting on the prayers we often send to God: “Speak, Lord, for your servant listens.” It might be more honest to say: “Listen, Lord, for your servant is speaking.” When we cultivate the art of deep listening -- listening with the third ear as one wise man said -- we may very well hear God speaking to us. When we do, God will help us to follow where the voice wants us to go.

And, yes, we in the United Church of Christ believe that God is still speaking. The question is whether we are still listening. Am I? Are you?

Love,
Dave