another grey day covered by clouds and low temperatures. it is made brighter by Elephant Vanilla Chai and a carrot muffin. i think the little collection of wildflowers on my table is the promise of something yet to come. the coffee shop is bustling today as the gloomy sky has driven everyone in to warm their chilled fingers. looking across the street i see the old train depot of downtown palmer surrounded by spotless white cherry blossom trees. memories of Washington dc come flooding back to me. the fragrance dripping off the blossoms of the trees. the emotion of finding a bend in the trail to behold the sun setting over the lincoln memorial. the fountains bubbling in the moonlight . architecture only beautified with the passing of time and visitors. i want to go back. i have yet to feel the grass of the Arlington cemetery underneath my feet.
"He who has ears to hear. Let him hear." -Matthew 11:15
we are a generation of texts. tweets. and all things techy. but we haven't lost touch with all kinds of personal communication. the desire for face to face communication is still in us as humans, we are still relational creatures, in need of one another. a couple newly falling into interest can still find the beauty and richness found in a conversation over a cup of coffee, or the depth of heart that is communicated through the whispered words that pass as the sun melts into a vibrant horizon. they learn and love to speak with their eyes across a crowded room. i don't think we can ever fully give up the desire for relation to the hold of technology. the human heart can be shown and shared in so many ways. if chosen. so if we can relate, than we can absorb and understand. the ears of this generation have not been deafened by technology, they have only to choose to hear. every person of every generation must choose to let the eyes and ears of their hearts be opened. the message must never change, the presentation and reception must change. generations. trends. people. they change like the ebbing of the ocean.
"whoever desires to love life and see good days let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. let him turn away from evil and do good , let him seek peace and pursue it." -1 peter 3: 10-11
i have been mulling over this idea of keeping my ears open to hear. i want to hear broken hearts. to hear the words and the sighs that fall between the sentences. what is my testimony? what is the difference in my life that non believers don't understand? i don't drink, smoke, or chew. and i don't go with guys that do. so beyond being different than the social norms how is my life different. do i have ears that hear. a tongue that speaks life and love. hands that receive brokenness and give compassion. feet that are purposed in the spreading of the gospel. Jesus was burdened with this purpose. He was so intertwined in the Fathers heart that He recognized the true broken touch on the hem of his robe. He had eyes to see the little man up in the tree. Ears that heard the weeping of sisters as they mourned the death of their dear brother. Hands that loved so deeply they were willing to be nailed to two rough beams of wood. where is my passion and purpose. i have to choose to hear. choose to walk. choose to surrender my life everyday to be pinned to cross.
"for the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer"-1 Peter 3:12
may my ears be ever open and receptive.