Tag: hearing

Posted in Through the Bible Devotions

I didn’t hear you

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto: https://www.pexels.com

“Did you hear what I said?”

“I’m sorry, I wasn’t listening.”

How often do you think two people have that little conversation? No doubt daily around the world in every language. A noisy world drowns out the voices speaking to us. You weren’t listening because that voice in your head captured your attention. You didn’t hear the kitchen timer go off, and burnt the cookies. You slept through last night’s thunderstorm. In the airport, a voice repeatedly summons a person to a TSA checkpoint to retrieve and item they lost there. Everyone heard it – that person.

In the Old Testament book of Zechariah, God is not happy. “They refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears that they might not hear” (Zechariah 7:11) It’s not that God’s people didn’t hear him. They stuck their fingers in their ears, shutting out every prophetic command and warning.

The consequence of their intentional deafness is severe. “As I called, and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear,” says the Lord of hosts” (7:12). Hang up on God when he calls? He’ll be sure to hang up on you when you need to talk to him!

What did God say that was so offensive that they put their hands over their ears? God had told them (again) to be honest, kind, and merciful to each other (7:9). That’ it.

It wasn’t actually a hearing problem. It was more like an obedience problem. Everyone was willing to feast and sometimes fast (7:5,6). In other words, an occasional spiritual ritual was fine. Just don’t ask them to be nice to someone else. Nurturing selfishness means changing the channel so you don’t have to listen to God.

What is it that I don’t want to hear? When do I tune God out? Can I just pretend I didn’t hear that question?

When I’m busy. When it’s not convenient. When I already know what to do. When it interferes with my plans. When I’ve heard it all before. When it makes me feel guilty. When he’s right and I’m wrong.

People often wonder why God hasn’t responded to their prayers. They can’t figure out why he’s not listening. Maybe we’re the ones who need to listen before we open our mouths.

Posted in sounds

You can see a lot just by listening

Posted on by William Douthwaite

As I sat outside to read and write early yesterday morning, I heard a woodpecker hammering away at a tree a few blocks away. In my mind’s eye, I could see what that sound meant.

The woodpeckers drill holes in the twenty-foot dead pine trees in search of insects. The trees are easy to spot since they’ve already dropped their needles. The bark is dotted with holes before it falls away. One good storm will bring the tree down. The woodpecker’s rapid rhythm prompts me to glance up and check for any dead trees near my house.

What other sounds in the distance grab my attention?

  • The revving diesel engine, squeaky brakes, and backup beeping of the garbage truck reminds me it’s trash and recycling collection day.
  • A different rhythmic hammering announces that another neighbor is getting a new roof. Each shingle is attached with a rapid pop-pop-pop from the nail gun.
  • The whine of a Japanese-made motorcycle shifting through its gears conjures up the image of a traffic-free stretch of interstate highway.
  • I always glance up when I hear the rotors of a helicopter overhead. Is it the medical transport? I’ll bet that’s why I heard sirens.
  • The squealing of a belt that needs to be replaced in someone’s car engine. How can they stand that sound?
  • The sound of a lawnmower makes me glance at my lawn. It is time to cut it again already?
  • The groans of heavy equipment and cracking tree trunks signals the clear of a wooded lot for new home construction.

I’m amazed how each sound generates a mental image of what is happening. You can see a lot just by listening.

Posted in Ministry

Snap, crackle, pop

Posted on by William Douthwaite

Yesterday I got to teach our preschool Sunday School class about the time Jesus restored a man’s hearing. We covered our ears to understand what it might mean to not able to hear. We moved our lips without making a sound, too.

The snack that went along with the lesson was Rice Krispies and milk. None of the students were big cereal eaters, so this was new experience for them. They got to hear the snap, crackle and pop when we poured on the milk. Great fun. Of course, they didn’t stop there. They took a big spoonful, opened up their mouths so I could hear the sounds in there, too. And that’s not all. We quickly went through a batch of Rice Krispie treats.

On the playground afterwards, I asked, “So what was our lesson about today?” Of course, their first answer is, “I don’t know.” So I asked, “What was wrong with the man?” “He couldn’t hear.” “What did Jesus do?” “He took care of it.”

Not a bad answer. Not a bad answer at all. No matter what, Jesus takes care of it. I’ll have to remember that!

Posted in senses

What did you see, hear or smell?

Posted on by William Douthwaite
Photo by Edi Libedinsky on Unsplash

On the heels of my last post, I’ve been musing about the parts of the body listed in 1 Corinthians 12. I like the way Paul asks, “If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell” (v17). Of course everyone isn’t an eye, or an ear, or a nose. But some people are, and I think that’s fascinating.

Some people are “eyes” and see things I might miss. They see the things God is doing. Or they see the needs people have. They see miracles happen all the time.

Some people are “ears,” and hear things I might miss. They hear nuances in people’s voices, hearing more than just the words spoken. They hear what someone is really trying to say.

I guess that means some people are noses, too. They know when the coffee is brewing, the wine is uncorked and the flowers have arrived. They can tell when something (or someone) is a little too ripe. They know it’s time to open the windows and air the place out.

Others are hands. They know the power of touch. Some are feet. They are quick to arrive somewhere.

All I want to know is, “What do you see? What do you hear? Or smell? How does it feel? Where did you go?” I might miss the things you think are obvious. Make sure you share them with me!