The Voices We Hear
Listen To Voices Of Safety In Times Of Danger
by Eric Elkin
“Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray.””
The situation with the mail truck is getting worse. Every time the mailman comes to our house, he gives our dog a treat. The vet once described our dog as “food motivated.” That was putting it mildly. Jussi, our dog, loses his mind for food. The combination of a moving vehicle, a dog treat, and a hungry dog is not good.
Our local mailman is a nice guy. He is a happy and pleasant person. Whenever I am nearby when he delivers the mail, we always have a friendly conversation. He loves dogs and is eager to greet Jussi. You can tell he enjoys the interaction when Jussi jumps up to get the treat. It is a one-sided relationship, though. Our dog is only interested in the treat.
The mailman’s graciousness is causing problems. The other people who deliver the mail are not as dog-friendly. One driver completely freaked out when Jussi sprinted to the truck. She nearly had a heart attack when he jumped up into the doorway. The other mail deliverer drives away before Jussi gets to the truck.
The worst and most dangerous part is Jussi will not listen to my voice when he sees the mail truck. He is a very disciplined dog. Yet, no voice command seems to work when the mail truck comes. This condition has compromised his sense of fear. Jussi will jump at the truck while it is still moving. He is so focused on the treat, he does not see other moving vehicles as well. I am afraid our mailman’s graciousness will eventually lead to a tragic accident.
“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply.”
The interaction between Jussi and the mailman made me wonder about the voices we hear or do not hear in our lives. Studies are showing the Church is losing its voice in the culture. When I listen to what some religious leaders are saying, it is not all bad. However, there are a lot of powerful, life-giving words falling on deaf ears.
Green Bay quarterback, Aaron Rogers, was rightfully ridiculed this past week for the voices he is listening to. After testing positive for COVID-19, Rogers explained his lack of following NFL protocols for unvaccinated players. He revealed on a podcast that he was taking medical advice from podcaster and comedian Joe Rogan. The revelation caused even his close friends to laugh.
As most parents tell their children, they should not always listen to the advice of friends. Sometimes, though, that lesson is lost on the parents. The voices we need to hear are not always telling what we want to hear. They speak the words we need to hear. Words of safety in times of danger.
Freedom is a big deal in our culture at this time. Any command or suggestion to limit our action is too often seen as a threat to our independence. If you feel this way, I suggest you listen to Jesus. “Beware that no one leads you astray.” You may not see the oncoming car when racing for the treat.
Click to read: Mark 13: 1-8
Reflection Questions:
Whose voice do you listen to most?
What voices threaten your sense of safety?
What are the words of life that shape your daily living?
How can you keep from moving astray?
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