Beauty surrounds us, but we usually need to be walking in a garden to know it - Rumi
It is very difficult nowadays to find some peace and quiet. Yet we all need a quiet place, somewhere to step back from the constant noise of the world, to think and to pray. But everywhere there is noise; traffic noise, dogs barking, neighbours shouting, kids screaming, and music blaring. Not to mention the wall to wall coverage of world events on TV and the constant demand for attention from social media. Who invented Twitter, by the way - and, why?
Yet spare a thought for those who have a hearing difficulty; whether profound deafness or an inability to hear clearly. They often suffer a sense of isolation, of exclusion, a frustration at not being able to join in. Perhaps also a sense of fear; what are they saying that I should know about? I recall spending a night in a hotel when the fire alarm went off. All guests were accounted for bar two, a husband and his wife. Someone, perhaps wrongly went to investigate and found him fast asleep whilst his wife who was profoundly deaf sat up in bed reading. Neither had heard the alarm and so they were blissfully unaware of the danger! Fortunately it turned out to be a false alarm. I wrote much of this, in my head at least, during the week but could not think of an ending, a message. Then about five o’clock on Sunday morning I seemed to hear someone say: “Are you still moaning because you can’t hear as well as you could sixty years ago? What about all the other gifts and talents I have given you? Don’t they count for anything? I have given you a family, friends, oh and a garden too. You can see, touch smell and taste. I have also given you the ability to write. Just because you are 77 years old don’t think you can just sit back and watch endless repeats of mindless day time TV. I have called you to be my disciple. I have given you a task; to tell people about my Creation and to tell them where you have found me today. And I have given you the tools to do it. So what are you sitting around moaning for? Get on and spread My Word. And stop worrying about what to say. St Paul reminded you that: ‘Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, ‘Abba, Father.’ Galatians 4:6. So, MY Spirit will guide you.” Yes, OK Dad, Abba. Well it was Father’s Day. The point is that whatever disability we may, or may not have God has a mission for us, a task. We just need to ask Him what He wants us to do today. After all as Jesus said: ‘Ask and it will be given to you...’ Matthew 7:7(NIV). We do not need perfect hearing nor do we need a social media account. Just listen God will make Himself heard.
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AuthorI am an Authorised Local Preacher in an Anglo Catholic parish church, in the Diocese of Essex UK Archives
February 2022
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