Ears On The Rail

Tuesday, ‎January ‎24, ‎2023

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.—Acts 4:29-30

Memory verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Readings: EXODUS 9-11 MATTHEW 15:21-39

Ears On The Rail

We continue to visit the need to be alone before the Lord. To be still and quiet and listen is gifted to all of us but it lies still under the tree and wrapped-neglected by most-trivialized by many-needed by all.

I looked off in the distance to where the train tracks might meet as my buddies all listened with their ears to the rails.

"Can you hear it yet?"

"I can't hear with you asking every five seconds, now hush!"

When you are eight years old and trying to hear the approaching train through the rails, it is best to go alone. A bunch of little boys can make enough racket to confuse nature and we often tried. But I kept looking north of town for the afternoon southbound and they kept arguing when we heard the first whistle from behind us. It was a northbound coming at us. We were in no immediate danger as the train was still a half a mile off and was on, what I would learn years later, a 'slow order' through town.

We got our pennies down on the tracks and backed just out of danger where we could smell the grease on the undercarriage as it rolled by. It shook the earth, as always, and blew our hair back and the noise blocked even the excited yells of the boys next to you. The behemoth passed and we picked up our flattened pennies, the ones we could find, and walked back down to the creek and then off to our different homes. As I walked alone, I could hear my feet swishing through the grass and the summer-bug, noises; the birds singing and dogs barking off in the distance were louder than a truck way out on the highway a mile away.

Today, as you look at your phone or t.v. screens to be informed or whatever, try to remember a time before-when you might have been a child amazed at just the sounds and smells of the outdoor world.

If or when we finally discover the truth about being alone in God's presence, we will again be amazed at something without a screen-amazed as a child alone walking through a pasture. The awe of God will go all the way through our souls.

What does it actually 'sound like' to be forgiven-to be humbled-to be in awe of our Holy God? What does the throne room of God smell like?

As children, we got down on our hands and knees with our ears to the rail to hear the trains. As adults, we all need to learn how to 'get down' with our ears 'on the rail' and wait for God to speak. It is then we realize God does not just rumble through-He is quietly there, here, all the time-patiently waiting for us to listen to His heart.

The best is how it feels-how it smells-how it sounds-His best.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Forgive my reluctance for stopping to be still in your presence as I should.

Teach me to hear-really hear You.

Merciful, gracious God.

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen