Good morning…
During our Friday morning class, we wondered together how we ordinary people might actually hear the guiding voice of God. Enlivening our discussion, one of our classmates told us a true story.
Lake Blue Ridge is a thin place for this friend, a sacred spot where heaven and earth seem seamlessly bound. On one of her many hikes through the woods, she recently discovered an eagle’s nest high up in a tree about a mile from their cabin. With this being the season when eagles are known to give birth to their young, she visited the nest regularly, hoping to see the majesty of a winged creature. She returned again and again, but no luck. In still moments she heard some rustling, some squawking, but never did an eagle peek into sight.
One morning she visited the nest, and she again heard noisy movement but saw no eagle. A bit disappointed, she turned to leave. That’s when she heard an unmistakable voice rise up from within: “Be patient and you will be rewarded.”
“The voice was not my own,” she said. “I don’t speak that way. I would never use the word ‘rewarded.’ This was clearly not my own voice.”
She heard. She listened. She obeyed God’s directive. Patiently she waited. For about three minutes she stood still, waiting.
Then all of a sudden a very large eagle shot up from the nest and circled, and circled, and circled right above her. Capturing a cell phone photo of God’s gorgeous creature, she shared with us the incredible image.
Learning together what it means to trust the inner voice of God, we all shared in the reward of our friend’s willingness to hear, to listen, to diligently obey: “Be patient and you will be rewarded.”
But if we hope for something we cannot see, then we must settle down to wait for it in patience (Romans 8:25, MSG).
…Sue…
