"Good Vibrations"

In I Samuel 3:l-l0 there is a story about Samuel and Eli. Samuel heard the Lord call and went to Eli, but Eli was distracted. It took him three times to get the message. Eli was not fully tuned in. The first two times, Eli, had bad vibrations but on the third time, he had good vibrations.

The story of Samuel illustrates that Samuel, unlike Eli, was a keen listener. He was tuned in to the vibrations of God’s voice. If we want a happy and fulfilled life, we need to have good vibrations. If we want to know what God expects from us we need to open our ears. We need to listen to the people around us.

It has been said that our culture suffers from sleep deprivation. In ancient times, people went to bed when it was dark. Now, because of artificial lighting we stay up half the night. Consequently we sleep 7-9 hours instead of l2-l4 hours. When we aren’t fully rested we can’t possibly be tuned in to what God is trying to tell us. Our lives are so cluttered with chores, jobs, errands, worry and guilt that we can’t pick up on the vibrations that are present.

First, we must be rested, but secondly we must be free of distractions. Television is one distraction that dominates our time. Folks are visually focused and as a consequence there is far less reading and listening to other sounds. However, television is not the only thing that distracts us. Many people stare at a computer screen all day then come home and watch television for the remainder of the day. Consider the hours that our youth and children spend watching movies and playing video games. And even adults are more interested in "sightseeing" than listening to the sounds of creation.

I believe we are becoming more and more visual. And as a consequence we are using our auditory skills less and less. I was having a conversation with a friend recently. We were catching up with one another. At one point he asked me to go back and say more about a particular subject. I had jumped ahead changing the subject. To be a good listener calls for concentration. Like so many others, I was in a hurry to tell my story. Dialogue calls for listening. It is a two-way street. It calls for "good vibrations."

If you are a Baby Boomer you remember the Beach Boys. One of their songs was "Good Vibrations". Some of the words are: "I don’t know where, but He sends me there, fullness of relation, divine revelation. Got to keep those spirit-filled vibrations a happening with Him, got to keep soul open to vibrations…".This song by the Beach Boys has a message for us. God is constantly trying to get our attention. There is guidance and inspiration at hand when we are tuned in. In the second verse of their song, the words go "Oh, Church, beloved bride, you must sense movement, be not fooled by empty sound." The Beach Boys took this a step further by reminding the church that they have a responsibility to stay in tune with God.

Have you ever been in a crowded room filled with voices? At a family gathering everyone was talking. My ten year old niece retreated to her bedroom. There were too many adult conversations and she was not being included. When I passed by her room I noticed she had sought a quiet place. She was seeking vibrations she could tune into. By removing herself from the noise and confusion she became the best listener in the family.

Isaiah said that our ears are the "gateway of the soul", (Isaiah 55:3). Paul said that "faith comes from what is heard", (Romans l0:l7) And Jesus said, "He who has ears, let him hear", (Matthew l3:9). These are just a sample of the many sayings in the scriptures that imply that our faith depends on our ability to listen.

In a loud and vocal culture, learning how to listen for God’s voice is not easy. We are bombarded with a host of messages and sounds. There are many noises competing for our attention. It is therefore difficult to know which one to listen to. By being free of distractions and being intentional about listening we are likely to discern more carefully the voice of God.

Good listening skills open us to the small, still voice of God. Good vibrations can lift us out of despair and bring us joy. Good vibrations mean we are tuned in to God, that we are hearing clearly the messages God wants us to hear. Good communication can sustain meaningful relationships. It means we are free of distractions and listening with keen ears.

To be tuned into God we need to be fully focused but not just with our eyes. Our ears must be receptive also. God depends on receptive spirits to be heard. How can we give our children the full attention they need if we are too tired? How can we truly listen to our spouses when we our circuits are overloaded with other sights and sounds? How can we listen if we are overly visual? When we don’t have good vibrations our discussions end up in arguments, our conflicts result in hostility and our anger magnifies to rage.

Like the Beach Boys song, we need "to keep soul open to vibrations". Perhaps the best way to start is to listen more and talk less. After all, if God had wanted us to talk more than we listen, God would have created us with two mouths and only one ear.

Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio