OCC Ambassador Magazine Summer 2021

Non-Profit Organization U. S. Postage PA I D Joplin, MO 64801 Permit No. 62

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ONE MORE THING

A final thought from our editor

HEARING THINGS Amy Storms Last Christmas, my family enjoyed the new-to-us board game, Hearing Things. To play, someone reads a sentence aloud, and their teammate repeats back what they heard. The catch is, the listener must wear noisy, “chattering” headphones that mask the message. It’s nearly impossible to make out what’s being said above the shouting voices. Hearing Things takes a little lip-reading, a lot of concentration, and—as I soon discovered— better communication skills than my marriage has. “The compost pile...” my husband began. “THE LEOPARD’S SPOTS?” I shouted back. Not even close! We laughed till we cried. But noise isn’t always fun and games. Noisy chatter—the non-stop, conflicting messages we hear around us—can have harmful consequences on our communities, our families, our relationships, and our souls. Lately, it seems the entire world is in a collective game of Hearing Things—so many voices shouting such mixed messages. It’s difficult to distinguish what’s really being said, and all the noise makes us shout all the more. It’s hard to hear the truth. But into the noise speaks a still, small voice—a gentle whisper1 from God himself—heard only when we silence the noise and listen. 1

1 Kings 19:11-12

2

James 1:25

3

Psalm 86:11 (ESV)

In Hearing Things, the listener must stare intently at the speaker, blocking out all the distractions, to focus on what’s being said. What better way to hear God’s voice than to look intently at the perfect law2—to hear him in the pages of his Word? What if, in this season of societal noise, we determine to stop hearing things that aren’t from God? What if we quiet the clamor in our hearts and minds? What if we study Scripture instead of social media? What if we turn off our TVs and phones to focus—to concentrate on and communicate—God’s truth? “Teach me your way, O Lord,” said the psalmist, “that I may walk in your truth.” 3 Lord, I want to know you—your manner, what you’re like—so I can obey your instruction. Let me focus on you alone. Open my mind and heart to know and believe your Word. Silence the shouting in my soul so that my ears will always be hearing things—the still true things from you—for your glory and the world’s good.

Amy Storms is a wife, mother, Strong Hall dorm mom, English professor, and director of marketing and communications at OCC.