Tingling Ears
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series IV, Cycle B
Tingling Ears
Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." Then the Lord said to Samuel, "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle." (vv. 10-11)
During the Great Depression, work was scarce. A young man was desperately seeking employment when he saw a "Help Wanted" ad in the newspaper for a telegraph operator. He had no formal training or experience, but he had studied and learned Morse Code on his own at home. With so few jobs available, he decided to apply for the job and went to the telegraph office. He entered the crowded office and immediately noticed several other applicants seeking the same job. His heart sank.
He was greatly discouraged as he sat in a chair waiting his turn to be interviewed. He wondered what kind of chance he had with so little training and so many applicants. However, after only a few minutes, his face suddenly brightened. He jumped up out of his chair and ran into the manager's office. Within a few minutes the manager appeared at the door with the young man and announced that the job had been filled.
One of the other men who had been waiting asked with great astonishment, "What did he say that landed him the job? After all, he was the last one here."
The manager answered: "It was nothing he said. All morning long I have been tapping out a message on my office window in Morse Code. It was loud enough for all of you to hear. The message was this: 'If you can understand this message, come on in. You're hired.' All of you heard it. He was the only one who listened."
God speaks to us in so many ways. The question is: are we listening? Since you got up this morning and made your way here, God has been trying to speak to you. Through the beauty of creation, through the love of family members, through the songs we sing, and the scripture we read God has been speaking to you. In a hundred different ways, God's voice is loud and clear. Unfortunately, it seems only a few will really hear.
In the scripture, Samuel heard someone calling him. At first, he wasn't really listening and didn't understand the message. But when he really listened, he was able to discern that what he heard was God's call on his life. God is speaking to us as well. Are we blocking out the excess noise and listening to God's message so we can discern God's call on our lives?
Now the Lord came and stood there, calling as before, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." Then the Lord said to Samuel, "See, I am about to do something in Israel that will make both ears of anyone who hears of it tingle." (vv. 10-11)
During the Great Depression, work was scarce. A young man was desperately seeking employment when he saw a "Help Wanted" ad in the newspaper for a telegraph operator. He had no formal training or experience, but he had studied and learned Morse Code on his own at home. With so few jobs available, he decided to apply for the job and went to the telegraph office. He entered the crowded office and immediately noticed several other applicants seeking the same job. His heart sank.
He was greatly discouraged as he sat in a chair waiting his turn to be interviewed. He wondered what kind of chance he had with so little training and so many applicants. However, after only a few minutes, his face suddenly brightened. He jumped up out of his chair and ran into the manager's office. Within a few minutes the manager appeared at the door with the young man and announced that the job had been filled.
One of the other men who had been waiting asked with great astonishment, "What did he say that landed him the job? After all, he was the last one here."
The manager answered: "It was nothing he said. All morning long I have been tapping out a message on my office window in Morse Code. It was loud enough for all of you to hear. The message was this: 'If you can understand this message, come on in. You're hired.' All of you heard it. He was the only one who listened."
God speaks to us in so many ways. The question is: are we listening? Since you got up this morning and made your way here, God has been trying to speak to you. Through the beauty of creation, through the love of family members, through the songs we sing, and the scripture we read God has been speaking to you. In a hundred different ways, God's voice is loud and clear. Unfortunately, it seems only a few will really hear.
In the scripture, Samuel heard someone calling him. At first, he wasn't really listening and didn't understand the message. But when he really listened, he was able to discern that what he heard was God's call on his life. God is speaking to us as well. Are we blocking out the excess noise and listening to God's message so we can discern God's call on our lives?
