And do we listen to the still small voice?
July 2023
The definition of the word listen from American-Heritage Dictionary via Google (because everything is via Google):
1) To make an effort to hear something.
2) To pay attention; heed.
3) To give close attention with the purpose of hearing; to give ear; to hearken; to attend.
So listening is not just hearing. How many things do you hear (and subsequently block out) in a day? In a week? In a year?
The Still Small Voice is not the TV news, the book club pick, or your Instagram and Facebook feeds. It is like the smoke alarm in a building, cutting through everything to get attention and keep everyone safe.
Except that it doesn’t work like an actual smoke alarm. The Still Small Voice will let everything else in the world drown it out. It is always there – we just have to be quiet enough (and around) to listen.
We are the ones that have to make an effort. As the definition says we need to pay attention. We need to “attend” to it like we would pay attention to a guest in our home or a matter that needs to be resolved.
When we hear it, we need to let it sink in. Not have it be one more blurb or clickbait.
And maybe possibly do something in our lives with what we heard..interact instead of consume.