| I heard an ad spot on a talk radio program one day, that caught my attention and held me transfixed. That is extremely rare for me. That this was on a secular radio station, added to the wonder. I came in in the middle of it, and I am not sure if it is right to even call it an ad. It was, I guess, some pastor in Pasadena California, speaking to the audience, but it did not seem to be selling anything, not even the church the guy pastors. It seemed really, to just be a paid spot of radio time, to provide a message to the audience. I would love to be able to quote it verbatim, as I am certain that my attempt to recreate the idea here, will lack the eloquence which with the message was originally given. |
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The Pastor was talking about how a child learns to play music. In the beginning, as they learn to play, they tend to rush through the music, delivering it at an increased pace and without pauses. As the child gets more comfortable and confident, the music begins to be played more as it was written, and the child learns to appreciate that rests and pauses, are not empty places, but an integral part of the music itself. The music might run for a while, with a predictable regularity, and quiet down, and have several seconds of silence, before erupting suddenly and building to a crescendo and perhaps leveling out again before the glorious finale. It is all part of a well orchestrated plan, the notes and the pauses, are all part of the music. |
| Israel similarly went along, hearing from God through his prophets for 1000 years or more before that last prophet of the Old Testament penned Malachi. Then, there was a 400 year silence. This pause, this rest in the music score, built the expectation for the coming of Messiah – the rest was part of the music, and the rest, made Jesus’ appearance all the more spectacular, a crescendo in history – the New Testament continued the music, and we now await the finale. |
| In our lives, we often feel anxious or sad, even depressed. We wonder why we cannot hear from God. Perhaps, it is all part of His well orchestrated plan, and we need to hear the silence as part of the song, as we wait expectenly for the next movement. |  |
In these times, it is good to read the Psalms, perhaps Philippians 4 or Romans 8. It is good to seek council, seek friends, pray, or even minister to the needs of others. Perhaps, listening to some worship music might lift your spirits or encourage you. A favorite verse from one of my favorite songs by Petra, called “road to Zion, goes like this:
“Sometimes a shadow, dark and cold,
Lays like a mist across the road,
But be encouraged, by the sight,
Where there’s a shadow, there’s a light.”
Perhaps, what we need to consider most of all, is the following eight words:
“Be still, and know that I am God”
Be blessed – Omegaman 2.0