Come & Listen

 By: Joanne Viola

I was tired so I headed to bed an hour earlier than usual knowing full well it might mean waking up even earlier than usual.

And I was correct.

It was a quiet morning as one would expect at this early hour. An occasional car passes. The air is still and there is hardly any sounds at all.

Sitting with my coffee mug, I hear the sound. It is familiar to me as it drove me crazy one year. It is the sound of a woodpecker.

Instead of pecking at our house, he is now contentedly at work in the woods which border the back of our home. I can still hear the echo of his incessant pecking as he is quite persistent. I’m grateful for since our house has been resided, he has finally left us alone. But it is a loud and hollow sound.

Grabbing a second cup of coffee, I sat back down on the couch and listened. This time instead of hearing Woody at work, the sound of a beautiful lilt filled the air.

The happy song delighted my ears, and I began to wonder about the woodpecker. Paying attention, I noticed he is still there pecking away.

I sat for some time, sipping my coffee and listening to the sounds out back. As I focused on the sounds of one, the sound of the other was hardly heard at all. In fact, the sound of the annoying tapping was not even noticeable.

There are two voices which speak to us each day. One is the incessant droning of the enemy who seeks to bring us down with his persistent nagging. His messages are wearying, in an attempt to distract us from God’s truth. He is relentless and ruthless.

But then there is the other, the beautiful sound of our God, who with His song calms our fears and rejoices over us. His words are faithful and fortifying.

We have the choice, each and every day, as to which voice we will strain our ears to hear.

“Come to me with your ears wide open.
Listen, and you will find life.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.
(Isaiah 55:3, NLT)

 

Reflection:
What changes may be needed to become intentional in the voice you hear each day?

 

Photo by Owen Yin on Unsplash