Listening and Loving

1 Kings 19: 9-13

We have become accustomed in our modern lives to expect Drama, with a capital “D”! Big news. Flamboyant ceremonies. Spectacular movie effects. We expect loud orchestral music, claps of thunder, and the booming voice of Charlton Heston narrating any dramatic pronouncement.
The voice of God has infinite aspects; and if we wait for Him to arrive in our lives with an announcing fanfare of angelic trumpeters and a red carpet, well, we could be waiting a very long time.
Elijah knew this. He did not cower at the shattering of rocks as a tornado tore past, because he knew that the voice of the Lord was not to be found in the howling wind.
He did not fall down in supplication as a powerful earthquake shook the rocks under his feet, for he knew that the voice of the Lord was not to be heard in the groaning of the tortured earth.
He did not flee the flames of the fire, because he knew that the voice of the Lord was not to be found in the roar of the furnace.
Elijah listened. And then he heard a gentle whisper. And he went to meet and converse with his Lord.

Listening is an acquired skill, and I am convinced it is one that we all need to continually practice and improve upon. Good listeners are fully present to the conversation, actively paying attention to what has been said.
All of us can unintentionally drift off during a conversation, on occasions. Meaningful conversations we have with each other require two ingredients – honest thought, and attentive listening. Conversations with God, offering your love to God, and accepting his love to you in return, requires the same two-way process – heartfelt conversation, and patient listening.
There never be a more important gift of love to us, than the gift of the Son from the Father; nor was there a more important gift of sacrifice that the Son gave in love, for us all. While we cannot hope to reach the magnitude of God’s gifts to us, we can emulate their importance in our lives, in our relationships with each other.
It can sometimes to be difficult to know in which way it is best to offer our love. And then, my advice is this: just ask. Ask someone “How can I best serve you?” Even more importantly, listen carefully to the answer.
And, just as we ask the people around us, how we can be of most help, remember to ask God, too, “How best can I serve you?” Then, like Elijah, listen very carefully for the answer.
For it will not come with a drum roll, or thunder and lightning. It will come quietly, like a whisper, and you will need to concentrate carefully to hear, and understand.
Every act of love we offer comes back to us, magnified by grace, in the love of God. And by your example to others, in offering your love to whoever is the least amongst us, you will surely glorify His name.

AMEN