The Gift of Sound

 

“The still small voice of love” by Henri Nouwen

 

Many voices ask for our attention.  There is a voice that says “Prove that you are a  good person”.  Another voice says: “You’d better be ashamed of yourself”.  There is  also a voice that says: “Nobody really cares about you” and one that says: “ Be sure  to become successful, popular and powerful”.  But underneath all these often very  noisy voices, there is a still small voice that says: “You are my Beloved, my  favour rests on you”.  That’s the voice we need most of all to hear.  To hear that  voice, however, requires special effort; it requires solitude, silence and a strong  determination to listen.  That’s what prayer is.  It is listening to the voice that calls us  “my Beloved”.  

 

 Take a few moments to sit quietly.  Listen to the sounds around you.  

 

 How do you feel about silence?

 

Is society too noisy?

 

Do you find peace in the hustle and bustle of the day or in quietness?

 The Gift of Sound

Psalm 102: 2

  

 Incline your ear to me;

answer me speedily on the day when I call.

 

Psalm 100: 1,2

  

 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

Worship the Lord with gladness;

Come before him with joyful songs.

Know that the Lord is God.

 

Have there been sounds today that you found difficult to listen to as well as sounds  you enjoyed?

 

Where is God to be heard?