Listening

It's Sunday morning the 1st of April 2012 and I haven't spoken with another person since early Friday evening. I am finishing up a three day retreat at Pacem in Terris just north of Minneapolis. Pacem is a wonderful retreat center with 15 or so hermitages (small cabins) scatter about on 120 acres of wooded land. I wish I could say that I come here regularly but it seems that it only works out to be once a year or so.

Every time I come to Pacem it seems that I have a different purpose - at least that is what I think, God sometimes has a quite different agenda. My purpose this time was simply to listen - listen through scripture - the Gospel of John, listen through reading - Becoming Whole and Holy by Jeannine Brown, Carla Dahl and Wyndy Corbin Reuschling, and listening through prayer.

Listening - what does this mean? I haven't blogged for the past 3 months or so because I have been listening. Listening to scripture as I am attempting to read through the Bible in a systematic way (Prof Horner's Bible Reading System). I have been jotting down scriptures that jump out at me each month to see what God is speaking to me. I have been listening but I haven't taken the time to hear. I have the texts but I haven't taken the time to hear what they are telling me.

You see we have gotten quite good at listening without hearing what the other is saying - it doesn't take effort to listen but it does take effort to hear. I come to Pacem because getting away from the everyday things helps me to not only listen but also to hear. But even here it takes effort to hear. As I read my mind drifts to other places, I highlight or underline key thoughts but then I need to return to them to hear what they are saying, as I pray my mind drifts and I need to refocus to hear that still small voice of God.

So what am I hearing? From Carla I am hearing about the social science side of formation - the role of love as a formation strategy - by loving God and loving others we are becoming. As Carla points out its not the idea of loving God and loving others that is difficult its the praxis of loving. Also, we need to create an authentic, hospital space where we and others can be formed. This is what Jesus did so well.

From John it was tied to the the end of the Gospel where Jesus is entering Jerusalem for the final time - the shouts of joy that so quickly turned to shouts or crucify him. But then you have His resurrection and charge to us to love and serve others.

For God - this one I am still trying to discern. I have been thinking about a new ministry that I will be launching - LRT Ministry (more on this coming soon), working with Prison Fellowship about a new reentry program at Stillwater prison, writing projects, doctoral studies, sermon prep - just a variety of things that I have been sitting on for awhile. For now I encourage you not only to listen but to hear what God is saying to you through whatever mode He chooses to communicate with you.