Listen and learn

John 6: 44 - 51

It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God'. Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.

This is a noisy world. There are so many voices out there competing for our attention. I experienced this yesterday when I made my once- in -a- long- while trip to downtown KL. I had to go to the Puduraya bus station to purchase a bus ticket. The ride to town by LRT was quite pleasant, as I wisely avoided the early morning rush hour. Then the walk through Petaling Street...which at the early hour of 11 am was still relatively 'quiet'. Things were quite different at the bus station. As I headed towards the ticket booths, people were calling out from the booths, trying to attract the attention of potential customers. And then there were these people with walkie- talkies who kept coming up and asking "Where do you want to go?...Johor, Singapore, Penang...." So many voices, so many choices...so much confusion for the undecided. But I was determined to find the ticket booth I was searching for. As politely as I could (which was difficult, for the people with walkie- talkies were really quite persistent and more or less shouting in my ears) I excused myself and continued to look. I could see that one of them got quite fed up and finally left me alone! I knew what I wanted for my friend had told me the particular express bus company to look out for.

As I reflect on today's passage, I am reminded that we are called to listen and learn from God. In this world of much noise and multiple choices, the voice of God is the still point within from which our lives are guided. I realize that despite being quite single minded when purchasing my bus ticket, I still struggle when it comes to hearing God's voice for the really important issues of life. I am much more keen to get the views of others, I am much more ready to try to solve problems and tell others what I think......than I am to listen and learn from God. God has said, "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts.....they will all know me" (Jer. 31: 33-34). And Jesus takes this further by explaining that as we listen and learn from the Father, we will come to him. I do want to come to Jesus. On this journey I am learning, day by day, to rise above the other voices coming from within and without.