Hearing in the silence doesn’t come easy for us. Through the years I have become more and more aware of the transforming significance of the ministry of listening. Listening to the soul is particularly important and takes some work to develop both in ourselves and for others. Our ears have to be awakened and attentive to listen for the soul - which is a way of responding to the Presence of God, who is already present whether or not we are aware.

Today we are recognizing the Stephen Ministers, the lay caring ministry in the church. The best way to describe a Stephen Minister is to draw a picture in which the heart is visible, the mouth is very small and the ears are huge. Perhaps it would be even clearer if I drew three very large ears, two for hearing ordinary speech and noises and the third to hear what is deep and of God. In order to be a good listener, we have to have a sense of inner peace ourselves, otherwise the noises of the daily routine may overshadow God’s message. We often get impatient as we listen. But God is steadfast and patient and never gives up. God continues to plant seeds even though we don’t nurture them. So what is the parable of the Sower telling us we need to do to hear God better? The seeds on the path have been heard, but not taken to heart. It takes time and daily attention to heed God’s word - to nurture those seeds. Deep listening promotes growth. The seeds on the rock have been heard, but they have no roots. They enjoy listening for the moment but have not time for relationship building or growing deep roots. The seeds among the thorns have been heard, but are distracted by the cares and pleasures in life. The seeds in the good soil are the ones who, when they hear God’s word, hold it in the deep places in their hearts and bear fruit ultimately.

To be centered and rooted in God, we need rhythms in our own lives that nurture deeper connectedness with God and self and neighbors and the world. What daily practices we use to help us be aware of God’s presence are very important. Think about an ordinary moment in your day. How would you describe it as holy? Think with me about getting up in the morning, something we all do each day. If you are a morning person, you probably wake up instantly, jump out of bed and are ready to go. If you are like I am, slower to move from dreamworld to reality, it can take some time. I usually emerge from sleep more slowly, listening for the shower upstairs announcing that Jeremy is getting ready. I hear the click of the door as Jack goes out for the paper. I hear the welcome sounds of the coffeemaker doing its important work for the day. I hear Lady eating her dog food with gusto and gratitude. I come to consciousness slowly and then I finally remember God is offering another day and I say "Thank you" as I force my feet to touch the floor and slowly move toward the kitchen.

"O Lord, open my lips. And my mouth shall proclaim your praise." DAILY PRAYER, p. 61. The prayers I am sharing in this sermon all come from the Presbyterian Daily Prayer Book which I highly recommend.

There is a sense of calm and peace in our house unlike the years when there were three young children to get ready for school or church. For about twenty-five years mornings meant looking for shoes and other articles of clothing, signing permission slips and getting to the bus on time or driving a carpool to school. Now when Jeremy heads out to school God gets my time - my total attention. I go to my chair in the sunroom, turn on the unit for heat or air, and settle down for meditation - offering praise for the dawn of a new day. While the birds join me in welcoming the day, I unzip my Bible and read the passages for the day - which since September have been prescribed Disciples texts we’ll be discussing the following week.

"Eternal God, open our eyes to see your hand at work in the splendor of creation, in the beauty of human life. Your touch makes this world holy. Help us to cherish the gifts that surround us, to share your blessings with our brothers and sisters, and to experience the joy of life in your presence. Through Christ our Lord. Amen." DAILY PRAYER, p. 63.

On my two mile trip to the church, I have just enough time to ask for a gift for the day - sometimes patience, or wisdom, or understanding, or knowledge, or strength. When I get in my study I light a candle, a reminder of the Presence of the Holy Spirit who will be present with me and whomever crosses the threshold into that space.

"Eternal God, remind us always that you have gone before us through that dark valley, and that Christ walks with us still. Free us from fear that we may be firm in our discipleship to champion the cause of justice and truth in Christ’s name. Amen." DAILY PRAYER, p. 75.

At noon the rich sounds of the McClatchey carillon ring out over Peachtree Street and settle over Midtown Atlanta reminding us that it is a good time to pray. If it weren’t for the bells we might just forget to pray, it is so easy to forget. But that sound so divine and full of prayer is a great reminder. Noon is one of the busiest times at the church and in the neighborhood. Meals on Wheels are being picked up and the containers are returned. The children in the preschool are departing and the English language classes are breaking for lunch. Others are coming for food or Bible study or other meetings. There are no more morning shadows. The noon hour turns morning into afternoon and nighttime will soon be returning. No matter how full the calendar, the carillon brings us back to what is important - the bells help us remember what all the activity is about. I need those bells to open my soul and wake me again to God’s presence.

"Eternal God, you never fail to give us each day all that we ever need, and even more. Give us such joy in living and such peace in serving Christ, that we may gratefully make use of all your blessings, and joyfully seek our risen Lord in everyone we meet. In Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen." DAILY PRAYER, p. 66.

The church is like a garden of seedling souls in need of maturation. We are an interdependent root system of sinners thirsty for the living water. Many of the activities of the day provide the living water nourishing the garden. Prayer gives us a chance to share and be aware of God’s presence rather than always talking. There’s a great story about desert fathers and mothers who when they were having difficulty keeping silence were given a stone to keep in their mouths to help them listen. Not a bad idea. And at the end of the day, when darkness is falling, we all return home one by one sometimes for dinner together or to conclude the evening with each of us in different places, but all in the same sacred place called home.

"As you have made this day, O God, you also make the night. Give light for our comfort. Come upon us with quietness and still our souls that we may listen for the whisper of your Spirit and be attentive to your nearness in our dreams. Empower us to rise again in new life to proclaim your praise, and show Christ to the world. Amen." DAILY PRAYER, p. 78.

I believe God desires all our days to be shaped by the posture of listening. It may be partially a solitary practice. But it is also one of the most important aspects of Christian community. As spiritual companions, we are called to deep listening in which there is an open-hearted, non-judging reception of another. When we are really listened to, our spirit begins to expand. This is what Stephen Ministers offer - complete attention with a non-critical heart and big ears. We can discover the answers to our own questions when someone listens with no distraction, totally in the present moment. Contemplative living helps us stay deeply connected to God. When we think of contemplation I know we think of monks and mystics, monasteries and desert living. But a more contemplative approach to life can be practiced by each one of us, who longs to develop a keener awareness of God and a deeper ability to hear God.

Are not most of us like Samuel, who upon hearing the voice of God thought it was his old mentor, Eli? If God spoke to you tonight would you recognize the speaker? Often I hear stories from individuals who have heard a voice in the night or a still, small voice from within giving guidance regarding a decision the person needs to make. It often takes the affirmation of a good listener to help us recognize the voice of God that has spoken. Contemplation is one way to be in touch with God who is already present. Contemplative prayer is another discipline that allows us to catch our breath in the midst of the busyness of daily life - to rest in God for a while. Marjorie Thompson, in her book, SOUL FEAST, suggests, "in a world driven by the need to accomplish and acquire, in a world where we judge one another on the basis of performance, God calls us to the radical trust of rest. Does the Lord require so much of us that we cannot join God in a little divine rest?" P. 44.

When we listen deeply to God in silence, we can begin to cooperate with God’s will and become God’s partners in the work of the world.

How many times have you heard someone say, "I prayed about it and God told me to do this----" and yet their actions were hurtful or hateful to one of God’s children? On February 8 Leonard Pitts, a columnist for the Miami Herald wrote an insightful piece in the Atlanta Constitution on listening to God. He gave several examples where people misquote God when God hasn’t said anything to them. Then he writes God’s response: "And the worst thing," said God, "is that the things I DO say, no one seems to pay attention. I tell you to take care of one another. I tell you to honor your parents. I tell you to stop stealing, killing and coveting. I tell you I love you."

Pitt responds, "Yeah, but you said those things centuries ago. People forget." God says, "I remind you every day in sunrises and silences, in breezes and smiles, in poetry and jazz, in love and even in tears. You know what the problem is? You people make so much noise, you hardly ever hear me. You talk so much I can’t get a word in edgewise. You need to listen."

Glory be to God. Amen.