Still, small voice

Holy Spirit, intuition, your gut. Whatever your definition is, I learned again this week, that I have got to pay more attention to that small, still voice.

I learned this when I was 20. It was pouring with rain and I was due at a temp job on the north shore. As I was stepping into the car, I had this very strong feeling that I should check the tyres, but it was raining and I needed to get going.

Travelling over Auckland’s harbour bridge, I start to hear this thud, thud sound and sure enough, a flat tyre. I managed to get to the other side and pull over. A knight in shining armour (an angel) came along in a fully equipped tyre truck.

Ever since then, if I ever have an inkling about checking my tyres – I do. And I try to remember that with any inkling I have. But recently I ignored that wisdom…

I came home the other day to find that my neighbour had hacked away at one of our trees. I grabbed his attention from over the fence, expressing my upset that he hadn’t come to talk to me about it first. And then I remembered – the still, small voice …

A few months ago I was organising an arborist to trim some trees and I had a strong sense that I should talk to our neighbour about the trees on the boundary. But because I was worried that he would want them trimmed and that the lovely green wall of privacy might then be lost, I decided not to. I ignored that voice, again!

As I write this, I am looking out at a tree that looks a bit worse for wear. It could have been trimmed carefully and artfully by the arborist if only I had listened …

There are lessons in life. This one for me is reoccurring. Advice to self (from the still, small voice) – Listen! Do!

Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume you know it all.
Proverbs 3:6 MSG

There is a voice that doesn’t use words. LISTEN.
Rumi