Never Before Heard Real Sounds

This is a repost from October 27, 2011 but with our life riding the waves of a tumultuous sea lately, I felt I needed to read it again and thought perhaps I should share it here once more.

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Years ago we purchased a piece of property in a little known town, Quilcene, WA.  Quilcene is about a 4-hour drive from our home in Portland, and our dream was to build a retirement home in Quilcene.  Time went by, and God's plans for our lives unfolded differently from our own and that didn't happen.  Yet, I still remember a day we were there clearing away brush and debris, making our plans and dreaming, and yes, gazing out over our view of the area, something like the view in the photo here.

photos.moxis.com

The day was clear and the sun shone down on us as we worked.  A light breeze kept us comfortable as we worked.  My husband had wandered farther away from me where I couldn't hear or see him.  Suddenly, I heard what I thought was thunder, and then this little rustling sound that kept repeating over and over again.  Then the thunder would roll again.  And another rustle.  You can imagine this city girl became a little leery of the sounds she was hearing.

I went in search of him and when I explained my concerns, he laughed his heartiest laugh.  This made me furious that he should laugh at my fears.  His explanation calmed my fears and made me laugh at myself.  The thunder I heard was the hoof beats of the retired thoroughbreds galloping on the next property over, and the rustling was the gentle fall of dried leaves one or two or three at a time in succession.  How silly I felt!  Living in the city sounds are so cacophonous that we don't hear the gentle sounds of the quiet, far away from the city sounds noises. 

Athloneassociates.com

I went in search of him and when I explained my concerns, he laughed his heartiest laugh.  This made me furious that he should laugh at my fears.  His explanation calmed my fears and made me laugh at myself.  The thunder I heard was the hoof beats of the retired thoroughbreds galloping on the next property over, and the rustling was the gentle fall of dried leaves one or two or three at a time in succession.  How silly I felt!  Living in the city sounds are so cacophonous that we don't hear the gentle sounds of the quiet, far away from the city sounds noises. 

Many days the sounds around me shut out God's desire to be closer to me, and I don't take the time to stop and listen fully.  Perhaps I hear a whisper or a nudge, but like the hoof beats and leaves falling I mistake them for something other than God attempting to enter my life.  Like a child at her father's knee, I want to be closer to him and listen fully to what he has to teach me.  That will only happen if I slow down and still myself to quietness. 

"Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me,
your High God, above politics, above everything." 
Psalm 46:10 (The Message)

Q4:  Have you stepped out of the traffic lately?  Have you stepped away from the noises of every day life?  Have you heard the quiet and listened for God?