What is blocking me from listening to God’s call?
One could logically argue that it is technically impossible to answer this question. Here is the two-fold rationale:
- We may not hear the call when we aren’t listening.
- If we don’t hear the call, how can we even know there is a block?
Let’s assume there is a block and rethink the question. Then, the answer is probably: “Me–I am blocking myself from listening to God’s call.”
Hearing happens…sometimes. On varying levels. Things we “hear” can go in one ear and out the other, and the depth of our hearing depends on the focus of our listening. How much we focus can depend more on our feelings, perceptions, or even our current moods rather than what the other person says. Good listening is a choice that comes from focused attentiveness. Good listening also results in a response, even if we hear silence.
How focused are we on really listening to God’s call? If our caller IDs read “Heaven Calling” or “The Almighty,” we might be more inclined to pick up. But because God’s communication with us is so much more subtle than a phone call, we must listen consistently with greater focus and attentiveness. Mary did this in this Sunday’s Gospel when God called her.
Although our listening wanes and lapses, God is always with us. Although he doesn’t speak to us in words, he comes to us in other people and situations–opportunities to genuinely listen and interact with others through loving responses. When we’re too self-focused in our interactions, we may miss opportunities to hear God and be Christ for others.
Imagine this: You are out running errands, listening to your favorite station on the car radio. Your favorite song comes on, and you turn up the volume and start singing along like there’s no one listening. An ambulance is blaring its siren on the road ahead, but because you are not listening, you don’t hear it until it’s almost too late. Had you been more focused on the task of attentive, defensive driving, you would have heard the siren sooner and been able to pull off the road safely and timely rather than at the last minute. We can be so wrapped up in our music, desires, impatience, judgments, and disappointments that we fail to hear the siren coming from the person right next to us! If only we could get out of ourselves and be more in tune with others, we could hear God clearly and answer that call.
Good listening in any relationship comes from focused attention and intentionally wanting to know and understand what the other person has to say.
May God help us all to really listen and be open to answering every call with an attentive, loving response. If we are good-listening, we are God-listening.
– Amy Righi
