ARE YOU LISTENING

ARE YOU LISTENING?

January 22, 1999

Dear Friends,

I was laughing so hard my tummy hurt . . . and I couldn't stop. The more I thought about what had happened, the more I laughed. The more I laughed the more my tummy hurt. The more I thought about it, the more I laughed - and my tummy hurt even more. Not only was I doubled over (really!) with laughter, my son and two of his friends were in the same predicament . . . (one of them was actually rolling on the floor with laughter) . . . they couldn't stop either!

It all started while I was in the kitchen baking cookies for my son and his friends. The television was on in the other room and I was only half listening. Vaguely, I heard the special bulletin warning citizens to beware of an escaped criminal - to consider him "armed and extremely dangerous." Yea . . . I know THAT's not funny. But since I was only HALF listening, I misunderstood what the reporter said. I thought . . . he said . . . the escape criminal was . . . "armed . . . and extremely UGLY!" Yes, that's right . . . what I heard (or should I say "misheard") was "armed . . . and extremely ugly." . . . (hahahahahahaha) . . . Well . . . It was funny at the time.

"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up." (Romans 15:1,2 NIV) We are surrounded by a world is full of people crying out for help . . . lonely people . . . people in despair seeking only to be heard. How often do we hear them and not hear? . . . but then . . . How CAN we hear, we are only half listening. With only half our beings we listen to the cries of those around us. We respond, to their heart felt yearnings to be heard, with platitudes and empty words. We miss opportunity after opportunity to share the love of God with our fellow man. Whether we accept the responsibility or not, we really are our brother's keepers. Are you listening?

In the Master's Love,

The Preacher,

Rev. BWilliamsWaters

email: Preacher.The@usa.net

Rivers of Living Waters Publishing

John 7:38