Do You Know What That Sound Is?

Do you know what that sound is?  It’s the sound of too many voices in your head.

The voices of people arguing about masks, vaccines, and policies for in-person worship.

The voices of people offering more opinions than support.

The voices of faith working through love.

The voices of anger masking pain.

The voices of the media talking heads getting paid to increase anxiety and polarization.

The voices of self righteousness and “at least we’re not like them.”

The voices of the marginalized, oppressed, of blood crying out from the land.

The voices of creativity, free expression, and inspiration.

The voices of those like Job’s friends, explaining, rationalizing, justifying our pain, loss, and trauma.

The voices of protest insisting on justice and equity.

The voice of the scriptures and the communal proclamation of God’s good news.

And many others.

Some of these voices deserve our attention, others not so much.

But don’t forget to listen for the voice of the Spirit.

Don’t forget to follow Jesus away from the crowd and to a lonely place to pray and listen to the voice of God.

Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying.

Speak Lord, for your servants are listening.

What would those other voices sound like if we listened for God’s voice first?