Pat came out of the utility room with her fist outstretched, and said, "I'm a Swarshtit!"  I was dumbfounded.  I didn't even know what a "Swarshtit" was, much less why she was claiming to be one.  Then she opened her fist so I could see my tie tack, which I had left in my shirt pocket.  And she repeated what she had said.   But this time I understood what she was saying: "I almost washed it!"

     Now the problem was not that Pat speaks indistinctly.  The problem was with my hearing.  I have ears, but I don't always hear well.

     But even with faulty hearing equipment, there are things I can do to hear more when I want to.  I have become pretty good at lip reading.  I sometimes cup my hand at an ear, and/or turn my head to catch the sound waves.  Or I get closer to the source of the sound.

     However, when I don't really care whether I hear or not, I don't bother.  Sometimes I just smile and nod my head and try to look wise, when I really have no idea what others are saying.

     It seems to me that this is a parable of how we often relate to God.  He is constantly speaking to us by one means or another.  But we often fail to hear Him, or we hear Him incorrectly.  We are like those spoken of in the Bible who have ears, but hear not.

      It is very important that we have good spiritual hearing.  When God speaks to us we need to obey Him.  But we can't obey if we don't know what He has said.  Jesus encouraged us in this area.  In His messages to the churches, recorded in Rev.2-3, He repeatedly said, "He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches."  Obviously we can have ears but not hear.  And just as obviously, we can do something about our spiritual hearing.

     As we begin a new year, I want to improve my hearing.  I am resolved to be more sensitive and submissive to the voice of the Spirit.  I hope you will join me.