I know a lot of people like to wear their IPod when they work out, and that's cool, I guess. I'm not really into it myself. I like to hear the sounds, and be aware of the people around me, ready to converse if the opportunity arises. But what I saw tonight was really over the edge. A husband and wife working out together ... both with IPods in. It was actually quite entertaining at times. The wife would say "whew my arms are Jello." To which the husband would reply "huh" ... and she'd repeat it louder. Then the husband would say "maybe you should use less weight for this one." To which the wife would reply "huh" ... and he'd repeat it louder. Please try to picture the funny faces made with each "huh" and the removing of the earpiece ever so slightly to get the message. It seems like this would have been awfully frustrating, but apparently it wasn't. Because it just continued as I sat and pondered the situation.
I feel like that scenario painted a good picture of the way our lives become in our modern era of business and activity. It seems like we always have something in our ear, whether it's an actual IPod or not. So many things rival for our attention, and too often we offer little resistance to the noise of the world ... there's always something in our ear. And just as the bride and groom in the above story were having a hard time hearing each other ... we, as the bride of Christ, often have a hard time hearing Him due to a noisy lifestyle. And even if we think we hear from God sometimes, maybe we only take the earpiece out long enough to say "huh," but not long enough to sit, and be still and fix our gaze on His beauty ... and truly listen. So, what's in your ear that may be keeping you from hearing the One who loves you? Maybe it's time to clear some space ... to be still, to be quiet, to listen.
And let us not forget the wisdom of the Three Amigos ... "in a way we each have our own El Guapo in life ... in this case it also happens to be the actual El Guapo." We each have our own IPod distraction in our spiritual life ... and if yours happens to be an actual IPod ... take it out. You're missing a lot of life. (don't take this part too terribly seriously (unless you have a serious IPod addiction) ... I just wanted to get the Three Amigos in there).
But seriously, I know in my life I need to make space to listen and be still. As your brother in Christ I lovingly challenge you to do the same. He is truly beautiful, as are the gentle words He longs to speak to us ... if we'll listen.
