Advent–Peace–Day 9

Sometimes, I’m not the best listener.

When I was little, my mother thought I had a build-up of ear wax that prevented me from heeding her call. Nope, said the doctor, peering inside my ears, giving my canals and ear drums a stamp of approval.

Next was a visit to an audiologist. I had to raise my hand when I heard the high pitches, the low pitches, the in-between pitches. 

I think my mother was disappointed with the results. I passed with flying colors. There was nothing wrong with my hearing.

But listening and hearing are two different things, and I had my own worlds to attend to. I could lose myself for hours in an activity of my own choice: dressing my dolls and teaching them in “school,” setting up house in my mansion of a cardboard box, playing outside on the trees or on my swingset or with the cats and dogs. 

How could I listen for the voices of others when I was so focused on my own agenda? Instructions that my mother gave went unheard, or sometimes ignored, usually resulting in a whipping, a butt-chewing, or more mindless chores, usually a combination of those three.

After spending years as a teacher, I’ve learned it is best to give information in multiple ways to meet all kinds of learners’ needs. If something could be spoken, it could also be written down. It could be repeated, as many times as necessary. 

Demonstrations work wonders on students’ learning. Activities that get them out of their seats by requiring movement is even better. Blood flow helps information to stick and gets ideas flowing, plus there are lots of us who would rather move than to sit still. Information can also be chunked into smaller units of information, making it easier for students’ brains to assimilate it all.

When I think about teaching strategies, I wonder how the ultimate Teacher did it.

Stories. Lots of stories. When the story was done, the instruction could really begin. Even then, the disciples sometimes didn’t understand. 

And repetition. Lots of repetition. The disciples weren’t the most keen learners, it seems. Jesus sometimes showed frustration with their slowness to learn, especially in matters where they displayed a lack of faith.

Oh, and the demonstrations and the movement. Jesus and the disciples were always on the go, and wherever He went, the signs and wonders followed Him. 

And people still didn’t believe. And His disciples still didn’t always comprehend.

Jesus probably wished it was just a matter of ear wax.

The disciples’ instruction was a matter of utmost importance, for they formed the core group who would be tasked with spreading the Gospel message. If they failed to grasp the lessons of their Master, then what hope did they have of teaching anyone else?

But Jesus knew the end of the story. There was no doubt that His mission would succeed and that His disciples would faithfully share all that they had learned from Him. In His final instructions to them before His death and resurrection, He leaves them with one last promise:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33

He had told them things—many, many things—so they could have the peace that comes only from Him.

He’s the one who came to Earth as a tiny baby, lived a perfect life, and offered Himself as the substitute for the rest of us miserable folks who can’t even listen to what He has to say.

He’s still telling us these things today. We have His Word to read, along with pastors who preach, teachers who instruct, and any number of podcasts on Christian content. Radio stations broadcast praise music and sermons, and there are apps dedicated solely to Bible study and daily devotionals.

We don’t have an ear wax problem.

We just need ears to hear.

“For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.”

Matthew 13:15 ESV

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Reflection and Prayer: Have you “heard” or sensed God’s instruction in some area of your life? What happened when you followed, and what happened when you ignored it? Pray that God will give you “ears to hear”: to study His Word faithfully and deeply and to obey His instructions.