Listening to the Wind

Billy Graham once said, “Can you see God? You haven’t seen Him? I’ve never seen the wind. I see the effects of the wind, but I’ve never seen the wind. There’s a mystery to it.” Several times over the last several weeks I have sat and listened to the wind. For the last four or five years I have gotten a strong impression that I have been too “busy.” Busy with work. Busy with driving. Busy with playing. Busy with kids. Busy with hobbies. Busy with television. Busy with radio. Busy with internet. Busy with Social Media. Busy-Busy-Busy!

Two people come to mind when I consider my busy-ness. Mary, of Mary and Martha fame is one. Luke tells of a time that Jesus came to visit these sisters of Lazarus, the man who Jesus would later raise from the dead. Martha was busy-busy-busy! She was getting everything ready for their big dinner party. Mary was just sitting there with Jesus. Listening. Talking. Developing a relationship. Martha was working. Work is a good thing. Yet, when Martha complained to Jesus that she was doing all the work and wanted Him to tell her sister to help, His response wasn’t what she was looking for.
But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42

The second person I think of is David.
The Lord has searched for a man after his own heart. The Lord has appointed him as ruler of his people… I Samuel 13:14
I think most of us who know David’s story have been amazed that a man with the kind of baggage he carried would be considered “a man after God’s own heart.” On the other hand, I think it tells us about the graciousness, mercy, and passion of our God. David didn’t do anything halfway. He was all in. He was passionate. And, He really, really seemed to not only love God, but also to know that God really loved Him. How did he get to this point? Biblical timelines and the description of David as the youngest of eight sons tells us that after his anointing he spent the next 15 to 20 years developing. He still hadn’t “arrived,” when he became king as evidenced by his moral failing with Bathsheba and his subsequent murdering of her husband. Still, his heartfelt repentance when confronted with his sin and steadfast pursuit of God are inspiring to me.

So, why all this about David in a post about listening to wind? I have a sneaking suspicion that David spent many days alone in the pastures with his sheep listening to the wind. Birds. Sheep. Silence. I believe David spent many nights alone in the pastures staring up at the sky. Silence. Breeze. Sheep. Silence. Stillness. David wrote from his experiences--
The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Psalm 19:1-3
David spent many days and nights running for his life from someone he had been completely loyal to. King Saul, blinded by a jealous rage was intent on killing David. David poured out his heart to God while hiding out in silence in caves, in the wilderness, alone. Even in these times of frantic activity, David never lost sight of relationship. Perhaps, like Mary, he had learned that sitting still with God was the most important thing he could do. Like Mary, doing nothing, but being with her/his Savior was the One thing he couldn’t do without.
Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! Psalm 63:3

I need to stop. I need to do nothing. I need to be with my Savior. So, I look forward to listening for the wind today. I hope to see some stars tonight. I want to know my Savior. I know He is there. I just need to be still and listen for Him.