Week 6: Listening through the five senses
We are Always Listening to Something
Week 6, Day 3
My dad was plagued with a severe ear infection that suddenly and without warning turned into meningitis, sepsis, and pneumonia. He was in the hospital for a week, and then continued on IV antibiotics for ten days. During that time, and for a few more weeks following, his right ear was totally blocked. Since he could hear no outside noise, his brain filled in the gap by providing its own soundtrack.
For about a month, dad heard full orchestral music, big band music, and an occasional oldie from back in the day. The song he always came back to was Rhapsody in Blue by George Gersh-win—a great song and a classic, catchy tune. We joked that it was a good thing he only listened to good music because what he “heard” during that time came from his brain, not from the sound waves we use in order to normally process sound.
As I reflected on this phenomenon, I realized, we are always listening to something, even if it is just the voice in our own head. There is no such thing as total silence. If we are in a quiet envi-ronment, our brains will compensate and our thoughts will bring their own “noise” to the moment.
Today, we will listen through our sense of hearing, but we will listen through silence.
Psalm 62:1-2, 5-8 (ESV)
For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.
5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah
Habakkuk 2:20 (ESV)
20 But the Lord is in his holy temple;
let all the earth keep silence before him.
Revelation 8:1 (ESV)
When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
We have become more practiced at listening through silence... I challenge you to listen for a half hour in silence. Picture yourself entering His holy temple and keeping silence before Him during that time. You may even sing the song inspired by the verse in Habakkuk, as you enter into the time of silence.
Additional notes, thoughts, or drawings from listening through the sense of hearing:
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.