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Listening-now there’s a challenge (4 August)

The thought this week has been written by Beth Powney, EBA Regional Minister

This week I have three of my grandchildren staying, two of which are young teenagers, the other a nine year old.  The youngest has the loudest and most piercing voice, you will always hear her through any other noise.  The eldest is an absorber of facts and is very happy to pass these on to you at any time and in great detail, his voice is often heard, but do I listen?  The middle one has a quieter voice and says less, is she heard?  She definitely should be listened to.  Then add to this mix, Grandad who currently has a blocked ear and is not hearing very much at all through that ear.  I, like many mums/nanas seem to have the ability to hear multiple conversations at the same time, however which do I respond to?  Listening is very much a challenge in my current household.

In all honesty, what I have just described is actually a microcosm of the noises and voices of life which surround us, which ones do we pick out and which do we choose to listen to?  This, of course, is also true of church life.  Often the loudest voices are heard, but which ones should we actually listen to?

As part of a sermon I shared on Sunday I alluded to the transfiguration of Jesus as recorded in Luke 9 and it is in this place that we read of the voice from heaven saying: ‘This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.’   This is close to the words spoken over Jesus at his baptism, but with the added phrase, ‘listen to him’.  As we journey through the gospels with the disciples, we sometimes wonder whether they listened to Jesus, so many times when they don’t seem to ‘get it’ and once again with the transfiguration, they or at least Peter, don’t seem to ‘get it’!  Of course we recognise that we are viewing their actions with the benefit of hindsight and we have to pause and say, would we have ‘got it’ any more than they did? Would we have listened any better or more effectively?

Is it any wonder the Father speaks and says ‘listen to him’. However listening is so much more than hearing.  I hear the voices of each of my grandchildren, I answer their questions, but what about the nuance underneath which communicates, ‘I am struggling’ or I am not really ok’ or may be ‘I am saying I can manage, but I need your help’.  Listening is much more about reading the person or situation in order to bring understanding and depth to a relationship.  As the Father says ‘listen to my son’, surely he is saying much more than, heed or hear his advice and words and do what he says.  I believe part of the listening is about the Father saying be in relationship with him, understand the depth that he is bringing to you to others and allow that to flow throughout your life.

So some thoughts and questions to ponder for today:

Which is the voice that is dominating your life at present, do you need to tune it out and tune in elsewhere?

Where is there the place in your ministry for active listening to Jesus, listening which deepens your relationship and brings depth, light and shade?

Take time to dwell on this verse: ‘This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.’ What is the Father saying to you at this time?