At my office in Dennis Hall, unless I am in a counseling session, the door is always open. I do this so that any member of our staff who has a question or issue can immediately come in and feel welcome.
While I am very big on having an Open-Door policy, it does cause a problem.
In order to use my computer, I am facing away from the open doorway. Usually, this is not an issue but every so often, someone goes into ninja mode, and I don’t even know they are standing behind me until they speak.
Yesterday morning, as I was working on my computer, I suddenly heard a incredibly deep, diabolical voice behind me say, “Are you going to be here this afternoon?”
Knowing the voice could have only come from Frankenstein, I turned around very slowly.
Imagine my surprise when it wasn’t a dreadful monster about to end my life. In fact, it was the polar opposite of Frankenstein. It was one of the young mothers in our church who had just dropped off her daughter at our Mother’s Day Out program.
Allison explained her voice was much better than it had been a few days ago, before she started taking medication. When I expressed my doubts that it would have been impossible for her voice to sound any worse, she pulled out her phone and played a recording from last week. I was wrong.
As Allison and I talked about her inhuman voice, she told me of one real advantage to having the voice of a monster.
When Allison still sounded like a human, her four-year-old daughter, Juliana, would only hear and respond to about half of what she said. But now, with a voice that would peal paint off walls, Juliana heard every word her mother said.
Allison said, “Yep, selective hearing.”
This got me thinking.
I know God is always speaking but much of the time, like Juliana, I practice selective hearing. I only hear what I want to hear.
I suspect if God spoke to me in Allison’s monster voice, I would hear everything God said. But the goal of every follower is to hear God speak and respond. God shouldn’t have to use a monster voice.
Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28)
Prayer: Dear Gracious Heavenly God, open my ears to hear. Open my mind and my hands to respond. Thank you for speaking to me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Today, God is speaking to you. Don’t be like Juliana or her pastor. Listen and respond.
You will be glad you did.
Also, just for the record, in keeping with the Christmas spirit, Juliana said her mother sounded like the Grinch.
I agree.
I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins
Daily Devotionals by Dr. Tom Robbins 