Stories....

One thing about the new "Seasons of Life" ladies' class that began last night is that I want it to be a lot of discussion, not just me doing the talking!

Last night I asked a question: "What was your favorite season of life?".  I loved hearing all of the comments and stories the ladies shared.  It's a great way to get to know each other better and a great way to learn from each other.  Our experiences are all different, but then a lot the same.  Something someone else went through may be something I am going through, so it helps to hear their stories.

Until this past spring, I had a ladies' salad supper ever year. I guess it totally slipped my mind this year, so I'll have it soon.  One of my favorite memories of all of those gatherings is listening to their stories.  Some of those women have passed on and I miss their stories! A few of them we should have recorded. They were hilarious! Great times.

Everyone has a story to tell, but most people would rather tell their story than listen to someone else's.  I think I said this recently, but I don't think we can hear it enough.  Listen to people. Listen to their stories.  They are important to them, but will help you, too.  Part of the help may be that you just practice sitting there and really listening!  Sometimes that's hard to do.  Really listen. Hear what they are saying. Take the time to care.  Show concern.  Be genuine.

All Tuned Out

A common thing to see these days is a person (usually a teenager or young adult) walking around with headphones on.  The odd thing is that they may be in public place - a cafeteria, a sporting event, with their team, club, etc.  Not that there is anything wrong with listening to music or whatever, but the point is that, even though these people with headphones are with other people, they are completely tuned out from the rest of the world.  They might be with a group, but not IN the group. They're not connected to anyone, just connected to the electronic "thing".

Our high-tech world has changed our lives dramatically over the past decade.  A person can be totally alone and in their own little world, simply by being totally into whatever high-tech gadget they might have in their ears or hands.  For some, this may seem fun, entertaining.....even normal.  For me and my family, it seems sad.  For our families and for our nation, it is very sad.

Alone time is good.  Quiet time is good.  The constant need for entertainment and withdrawal from society (in a sense) is not good.  The inability to communicate one on one with each other face to face is bad.  The decline in social skills is bad.  The total idea of being "tuned out" to the world is bad.

Sometimes we need to tune in!  Tune in to God, that is!  Our lives will become unbalanced if we become tuned out to God.

Samuel got tuned in to God while he lived with Eli the priest:

The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.

 ² One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. ³ The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple^[a] of the LORD, where the ark of God was. ⁴ Then the LORD called Samuel.

   Samuel answered, “Here I am.” ⁵ And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

   But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

 ⁶ Again the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

   “My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

 ⁷ Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.

 ⁸ The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

   Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy. ⁹ So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

 ¹⁰ The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

   Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
1 Samuel 3:1-10

If we spend our time only being tuned in to things of the world, we are tuning out God.  We may not hear what He is saying to us through His word.  We may not realize when He is guiding us through open doors and opportunities.  We may fail to see when our prayers have been answered.  

Perhaps God is wanting you and I to listen - just like Samuel did.  Let's put everything away that might keep us "All Tuned Out" from God and lets respond to God just as Samuel did, "Speak, for your servant is listening."  We may be surprised at what He is wanting us to know.