Week 6: Listening through the five senses
Taste and See that the Lord is Good
Week 6, Day 1
Psalm 34:8 (ESV)
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
On a cold Friday morning in January, I took a moment to listen to the snow fall. You may think it has no sound, but that was the beauty of the stillness on that winter morning. I stepped away from the buzz of my hard drive, the melodious ring of my phone, and the ping of notifications that demanded my attention. All of those things could wait. Just as my yard was made new by a blanket of snow, my perspective on life and all my frustrations were made new from my time alone with God, listening to the snow fall. In order to truly and fully listen, I engaged all of my senses. I love the smell of fresh snow and the texture is fun to feel, even on my gloved hands. The crunch under my feet adds to the sound of it falling, but only if I listen carefully through the red hat I have pulled tightly over my ears. Watching the flakes fall of all different weights and sizes, I am enamored by the ones caught by the wind—the ones that tumble through the sky as they fall to the ground. Makes it harder to catch one to taste, but I love the way it melts on my tongue and moistens my breath. Can you hear and taste the snow with me? Are you listening? Listening is more than hearing a sound. Growing up, my parents used to say, “I need you to listen with your eyes.” They were calling for our full and undivided attention. Listening takes place through all five senses, which is our focus for this week’s listening exercises. Today, as you savor that perfect cup of coffee, sip of tea, or morsel of food, may you be reminded to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps. 34:8).
James 1:17 (ESV)
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
What does it mean to you to taste and see that the Lord is good?
How does taste connect to our practice of listening?
Additional thoughts, notes, or drawings from listening through the sense of taste:
We would love to hear from you! Please share with us what you are hearing and how you are growing in your devotion to listening.
This blog post is taken from the book Called to Listen: Forty Days of Devotion. To order a copy of this book, please visit our website and invite a friend to participate in the study with you. The book includes additional guides and questions to be reviewed in a small group context weekly.