A Time to Listen

   The story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 men, and probably the women and children who were with them, was written by Mark with two bookends. Small incidents that showed the importance of what was truly needed in a world of activity, even good activity.

   The disciples had just returned from their two by two mission trips. They were eager to share with Jesus and each other, all the things that had happened, what the result of their work had been, but Jesus stopped them saying, "Come away to a more isolated spot where you can rest". It would be a place where all the 'going and doing' could be replaced by a reflecting and understanding of what had gone on in their lives.

   The other bookend to this narrative, after the feeding of so many people with the 5 loaves and 2 fish, is the simple statement that Jesus dismissed the people and went up into the mountain alone to pray.

   Jesus knew what the twelve disciples needed after those trips of activity, He also knew what He Himself needed after being with the crowds, feeding them with physical and spiritual food. They all needed a time of being alone with their thoughts. They, each one, needed to be able to listen to God's voice, even in the midst of serving where He had put them. If Jesus needed this time alone, how much more do I?

   Over these next few days, I won't be able to have a lot of alone time. Prison activity will take away the opportunity for this. We will go into the compound early each morning and come out in the evening with things that need to be done so we can do it again the next day. The days will be full also, without much time for anything else except the program requirements. Not that this is bad, it isn't, but I have to look for time to listen, really listen, to God speaking into my life. 

   Physical isolation is not always possible, except in the evenings when I go to bed, but an attitude of listening can bring me insights, even in the middle of a program with other voices around. A lot of my personal enjoyment in this ministry is listening to the inmates relate the stories of their lives one on one with me. Not just casual listening, but with my heart, hearing their joys and sorrows, their frustrations and their victories, their plans and goals and where they feel they are at this point in their lives. 

   God speaks in many ways, and I do not have to be out in the woods by myself to hear His voice, it can happen in the middle of a gym, with a lot of other people around, just two people talking and listening to each other. The openness of my heart to hear is the key.

   Let it be so.