Tolland, Connecticut
October 19, 2004
Years ago, a high school pal graduated from Stanford and got his first job with a major bank in New York City. Later, I asked him what it was like to live and work in one of the busiest cities in the world. My California-raised friend told me that he felt as though Manhattan had been designed by people whose goal had been to make everyday life as difficult as possible, and that their work had been successful.
Nancy, Stephen, Anne and I spent a few days there last week, as we waited for our weekend with son David at West Point. By subway, we covered many of the sights: the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, Grand Central Station, and more. Those of you who’ve been there know that a little Manhattan goes a long way: though safer and cleaner than at my last visit, I find that too much of that traffic and noise and commotion and I’m really ready for the peace and quiet of our beautiful Rogue Valley. My friend’s estimation notwithstanding, Manhattan is nonetheless an exciting place: there’s so much to do and see and experience. It’s hard to imagine any parcel of earth’s real estate where life might include more distractions. Here are some examples: in just a few days, we witnessed
-thousands of people rushing from train to bus to taxi to subway
-walls of cabs racing down 5th Avenue like thoroughbred horses out of the starting gate
-a near-fight, over a cigarette stub
-marvelous jazz bands playing concerts in dimly lit subway stations
-a man in jockey shorts and cowboy hat (only) strumming his guitar in the middle of Times Square
-a never-ending chorus of sirens as police and firefighters threaded their way through the relentless traffic
Sunday morning rolled around and found us in the magnificent Cadet Chapel at bucolic West Point, 50 miles north of the city. There, Chaplain Jim Carter took his text from John 10, reminding us that God’s sheep hear the Lord’s voice, and do not mistake it for the voice of predators (10:5). His point was that the Lord speaks unmistakably to those to whom He has given ears (Matt. 13:10-16). The question is: are we included in His audience?
Manhattan is so noisy that the only voices that stand out are those of the deranged fellows who walked the streets shouting profanity at passersby. There, a quiet voice would be hard to distinguish above the din. But you don’t have to be in New York for the voice of the Good Shepherd to be overwhelmed by the cares of the world: it happens in Medford, too. Between our jobs or school or family life or the concerns of life, it’s easy once to have known the voice of God and then to grow indifferent to His sweet speech.
So, I ask: did you take time this morning to read and hear and savor the word of God? If so, were you blessed by His revelation of Himself, or were you already preoccupied to the point that your reading was cursory and uninspiring? If you did not begin the day with an ear to the voice of God, might you take time later today to turn your attention to Him? Why not read and enjoy and listen to and strain toward His speech? Don’t let the noise of city life drown out that one voice to which it is most important to listen.