Can You Hear Me Now?

Now that school's back in session it is a lot quieter around here. No more fights over who got the Wii games out. No more blaring music pounding down the stairway. No more annoying noises just for the sake of noise.

I might turn on the TV to watch the weather, tune in the radio for a radio program, or pull up Pandora on the computer to listen to some music while I work, but for a large part of the day, there is silence. Well, until 3:12, that is, when the bus rolls to a stop at the end of the driveway.

Have you experienced the feeling of being in an uncluttered room? Maybe in an empty home you are leaving or moving in to? Maybe during a redorating or painting project when the room is cleared of furniture. It is so easy to hear any tiny sound. Nobody's going to be sneaking up on you in there!

Have you ever wondered how to hear from God? Well, the absence of my kids at home reminded me of a lesson in hearing God. Just like an empty room transmits sound so easily, a head and heart void of clutter transmits the still, small voice of God so much better. So in the midst of our noisy, crazy lives, how can we get a little piece of quiet?

1. Turn it off. If you desire to hear God, you are going to need to listen. God is a gentleman and very rarely yells to get our attention. Turn off the cell phone, iPod, TV, computer, radio--whatever is creating noise. The problem isn't really with the gadgets, but the fact that they take captive our attention.

2. Drive in silence. When you find yourself alone in the car, resist the urge to pop out the "Five Million Songs That Kids Love and Moms Loathe" CD and put in a little something more to your liking. Take a few minutes and breathe in the silence. You can spend some of the time in prayer, but don't hog the quiet. Just listen and see if God doesn't have something to say to you.

3. Turn it on. Okay, so maybe you are a person who never gets a moment's silence. I understand. I used to go to the grocery store at 10:00 pm just so I could actually go by myself. So, if that is the place you find yourself in life, don't despair. Get your iPod, a portable CD player, or just a set of ear buds. Now, download or pop in a wordless CD, or just tuck the ear buds (attached to nothing--no body will know) in your pocket. Most people won't bother someone who looks like they are listening to something. The beauty of music without words is that is lets your mind wander and your ears stay open. Keep the volume down low. This is not the time to jive, but an exercise in solitude.

The next time you want to hear from God or just find yourself in need of a little peace, give one of these tricks a try. Can you hear me now?

Have a Salad and Wash the Windows--It's Vinegar Day!

Did you know that today is Vinegar Day? Maybe it is because spring gardens are full of greens in June and someone thought you should celebrate with a big salad topped with vinegar and oil dressing. Or perhaps revelers raise a toast as they scramble to use up these last few days of spring and it's requisite cleaning by mixing a little vinegar with water and adding it to a squirt bottle as a cheap and environmental-friendly window cleaner. Whatever the reason, June 16 is deemed Vinegar Day.

Have you ever heard the saying "You can catch more flies with honey than vinegar"? It is a cute way of saying if you want more friends (or suitors) you do it best by being sweet rather than acidic. This cute cliche reminded me of a time a few years ago when I asked the kids how to get a boyfriend or girlfriend and then recorded their answers. Jot didn't take part in the conversation, being too little, so I'm guessing Justice was probably about 6 and Jewel about 4.

Jewel lumped all her responses into a generic formula for both sexes:

*Always wear underwear.
*Use manners.
*Get someone like Jesus.
*Make sure they are funny, strong, and nice.
*If he is a boy, make sure he's handsome.


Here is what Justice said you needed to do if a girl wanted to snag a boyfriend:
*If you pick your nose--stop.
*Don't do very many burps.
*Do everything he says.

Here was his answer when I inquired about how to land a girlfriend:
*Use your manners.
*Chew with your mouth closed.
*Don't tell girls they are stupid.
*No sneaking food and no eating veggies right out of the refrigerator.
*No picking at your butt when she's right near.

They knew the concept of the old adage even though they'd never heard it. God taught me a lesson from their observations. God reminded me that even when it seems like it is going in one ear and out the other, my kids are listening to what I say. For the most part, the things they pointed out were really just parroting back the things I say over and over each and every day: "Chew with your mouth closed." "Wash your carrot before you eat it." "Make sure you put underwear on before you leave the house." "Choose to date and marry someone who loves Jesus." Even though they were years away from dating, they were listening and learning to what I said and what I thought was important.

Even though peers and the culture largely affect our children, studies still show that the number one influence on children and teenagers remains their parents. So, my friend, through the apparent selective hearing, the eye rolling, the sighing, the constant repeating--keep talking. Keep telling your kids what you value. Keep setting boundaries for them. Keep a standard of behavior that you expect from them. And remember to flavor it with a little honey every chance you get. Vinegar is good for salads, but as the proverb writer once said, "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."