There is an interesting story of a factory owner who lost a valuable watch in his place of business. Although a reward was offered and a diligent search was made, the timepiece remained undiscovered. Then an employee went into the building at night when the wheels of industry were still and found the watch. The quite natural question was asked, "How did you find it?"
The answer was simply this, "I just listened."
That was long ago when our world was not so noisy. Several factors were necessary to this success story. Of this we will mention two: intense concentration and the removal of other sounds. Our task today is not easy. Ours is a busy, crowded, clamorous world; and yet the need for listening and hearing, and heeding was never greater. Those seamen and passengers on that doomed ship must have often remembered Paul's unheeded statement, "Sirs, ye should have harkened (listened) unto me" ( Acts 27:21). Many a son or daughter, now older grown, weeps and laments, "Oh! Why didn't I listen to my parents and my pastor?"
How often we read in the Old Testament of the Heavenly Father's cry, "O that thou hadst harkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river" ( Isa. 48:18). Other prophets, especially the weeping prophet Jeremiah, sounded this sad lament, "But ye harkened not."
We need to read and reread Psalm 46:10, "Be still, and know that I am God." There is value in the quiet time, and the psalmist guides us here, "I will hear what God the Lord will speak" (85:8). Those old Quakers were "on to something" in their prolonged times of quiet when no one spoke. Prayers should not always be a monologue; there should be time for listening and meditation. Someone has given us this statement: "Attention is the art of Memory." A friend of mine is a silent man. When asked why he seldom spoke, he replied, "I learn more when I listen."
There is a fanciful story told of heavenly beings who were looking down on our hectic, hurrying world when one asked, "What are they doing?"
The reply was, "They are going."
This prompted another question, "And where are they going?"
"Oh, they are not going anywhere; they are just going."
But we are going somewhere! And we need to stop, look and listen!
Previously published in the Gems of Truth by Herald and Banner Press, Overland Park, Kansas http://www.heraldandbanner.com/
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Thank you for posting this. I wish more people took this advice. Some of the greatest decisions of my life have taken place praying by a quite stream with fishing pole in hand. Knowledge can be found all over our culture, but wisdom found through scripture and prayer is usually lacking. Knowledge is fleeting, wisdom is eternal.
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