The Still Small Voice

Often we speak of listening to the still small voice of God and understand that listening to this voice requires focus and attention in order to hear it correctly. Today, however, it seems to me the Lord has been speaking very plainly and directly; much , I imagine, as our own Archbishop +Mark must sound when he's on the beat with the Police Department and directs someone to pull out their license and registration! Here's the rest of the story:

This weekend we planned to visit my parents overnight on Saturday/Sunday and attend church with them this morning. Cindy and I rushed around feverishly trying to get some projects done before we left. In so doing, we got a little testy with each other (read 'mean'). Our trip to my parent's home was strained, but we relaxed upon arriving and were doing much better by nightfall. This morning, I woke up early and decided to dip into a couple of books I had received for my birthday: Life of the Beloved by Henri Nouwen, and Desert Father, A Journey in the Wilderness with St. Anthony by James Cowan. I began with Nouwen's chapter called 'Blessed'( pg. 68) and ran across these lines:

'I am increasingly aware of how much we fearful, anxious, insecure human beings are in need of a blessing. ...In Latin, to bless in benedicere. The word benediction...means literally; speaking (dictio) well (bene). Zing! My Benedictine ears perked up and I had the distinct impression of being convicted that I had not been speaking very well to my wife in the past few days. I heard that, felt convicted, and prayed for forgiveness, promising I would talk to Cindy about it later this morning. So far, so good.

Then, I read a chapter from Cowan entitled 'A Wordless Journey'. and encountered these lines on page 83: '...all experience and things do not attain to reality unless and until they are translated into words. Language brings things, realizations, and perceptions into being'. OK, Lord, I get it. It's important to speak good things into being...and I really will talk to Cindy, just before breakfast ( which I did).

Well, wouldn't you know that the sermon at church was from James Chapter Three:
2 For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers these things ought not to be so.

Why don't you just shout at me Lord! I get it already! Well...I hope I get it. I'm doing better today, but the day isn't over yet. Im sure I'll have to repeat this lesson along the way, but it's very clear that today's lesson was repeated in three different ways, just for good measure. So much for that still small voice. Here's wishing that you do better in this department than I have.