What do you hear when you wake up in the morning? Is it the sounds of the dawn chorus? The patter of rain, the drone of cars – or maybe someone in the kitchen making your breakfast? What about at lunchtime; is it the sounds from the kitchen, the chatter of voices, the thud of a ball being kicked or the sound of birds in the trees? And at nighttime, just before bed – do you hear the call of an owl, the bark of fox, the distant sounds of sirens? Our lives are so full of sounds that they often become just the backdrop to our lives. Something that is always there, gnawing away but not really distinguishable – one from the other. We are so used to background noise that silence can be overwhelming. We put the television or radio on, even though we are not really listening, we have apps on our phones and headphones that create ambient noise rather than sit in the silence. And, whilst many of these sounds are magnificent, a philharmonic orchestra, the call of a deer, the sound of wind blowing through the trees – we are at risk of never really listening when we become so used to constant noise.

So, this weekend, can we take a moment to observe? Can we fully appreciate the sounds that envelop us? And, in that moment, can we listen for our Lord? After all, if we never take the time to focus, we risk not hearing His word. God is always there for us, His presence guides and heals but, only if we take the time to listen, can we really benefit from His word.

Psalm 37:7 (ESV) Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;