Do You Hear What I Hear?

"Kaboom!" as the 200 year old tree in the middle of the forest falls to the ground.

The definition of sound is: what is or can be heard.  So, if no one was in or near the forest to hear the kaboom when the tree fell, did the tree in fact make a sound went it came tumbling down? This was the argument I caught on the radio on an obvious slow news day. And better yet, it was a sports radio station that I was listening to. Hmmm, what does listening actually mean?

A couple of times a week I drive past a Hearing Aid Center which has had this message on their marquee for over a year now:  We fix hearing, not listening

This message has intrigued me for quite some time and I think I have finally cracked the code!

There is a huge difference between hearing and listening.

Hearing is a sense by which sounds are perceived, or perceived by the ear.

Listening means to try to hear; understand or follow.

So if you were to go to this Hearing Aid Center and receive a hearing aid to help you hear, you may still have trouble listening. It takes more than just your ears to listen. You need your mind and your heart to help in the process of listening.

One of my favorite books in the Bible is the Book of James. It is such a simple Book with such a basic message: Do not be just a hearer of God's Word, but a doer of God's Word. In fact, James gives 54 clear commands to his readers to let them know how to practically do what they say they believe.

And therein lies the answer to our problems. Are we just hearing ourselves read the Word of God, or are we actually listening to the Word of God by putting it into practice in our daily lives?

Sometimes we all fall into that rut of having a momentary lapse of faith in our daily struggles. But if we listen to God's Word with the intent of putting it into action, our faith increases.

Who would've thought: listening, so much more important than hearing.

Just a note of thanks to my readers, last month my blog was viewed by over 400 people. Thank you!