Ambient noise

Ginger my dog and me at 3 yrs

Communication. . . World problems could be solved, relationships saved, information transmitted, and yet it's so difficult to achieve.   A few years ago a member of the congregation came into have a chat.  She was very upset about a perceived wrong, - "but how am I suppose to know that?"  Calmly I explained that the information was explained at our congregation's Annual Meeting.  "Oh, I don't go to those things."  I explained that it was also in the Annual Report, and that I mentioned it in a letter written to the congregation.  As one might guess, she had read neither.

A few years back, I heard that marketing experts say we must be contacted about a product at least six times before the information sinks into our consciousness.  Although that may be true.  If the information is important enough - say like the million dollars I think I should win - well, I guess you wouldn't have to tell me six times.

I am blessed to have some deaf people in my life, one of whom reminds me that hearing people don't listen or communicate very well.  I have no basis of experience to know the truth of that accusation, but I have been aware that ambient conversation and noise are lost on deaf people who have no idea what is being said around them.  To understand me, a deaf person must either look at my mouth with great intention, or try to understand what I am attempting to say with my limited sign language.  "listening" is more intentional when you choose to "hear."

When I think about how many things I heard yesterday - and have already forgotten it is sad.  But, isn't it amazing how many years the story of Jesus has managed to survive?  He was so counter-culture with the way he stood up for the poor, sick, lame, mentally ill, women, children and slaves, and how his sacred power - still does.  Jesus put his message, ministry, and faith, in fisherman, tax collectors, and the unclean, they were his inner circle.  Seriously, who wants to hear stories about a man who loved the unlovable and invisible?

Yet, right now, in the middle of our Easter season, the story continues. How does anyone communicate love in a way that people are still telling the story 2000 years later?  Frankly it's worth so much more than a million dollars (not that I would turn down the million).  Keep telling me the stories of Jesus, 6 times - today, and 6 more tomorrow.  Tell me to stop listening to the ambient noise of my cluttered life.

The story can change the world.  But in the meantime make me look at your lips moving.  Move your hands around, do whatever you need to do to help me - so that I can tell the story to someone else.