Selective Hearing

When our second son was little, my husband and I swore he had hearing loss...

...He didn't.

He had selective hearing and our shouts and occasional screams seemed to go unheard.

I still have vivid memories of my six year old zooming by on his bike heading for the road.   I can recall with ease the image of  my boy pedaling his bike with determination.  He was leaning forward gripping the handle bars, head down like the mean-neighbor-lady from the Wizard of Oz.  (Can you hear the music?  You're humming it aren't you!)

This little bike episode was not the only dangerous situations one of my children faced.  Throughout their young lives, I shouted my warning, "STOP!"  Sometimes they heard me and sometimes they didn't.

I know of another parent who shouts His warnings.  Let's call him God the Father.  His words sound something like this... "I tried to warn her.  I gave her every opportunity.  Still, she acted like she didn't hear a word I said, and she did just as she pleased."  Maybe I took some liberty with what God might say...or did I?

In Acts 7:51 (NKJV)  through the writer of Acts, God the Father tells us this.  “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you."

God certainly sounds like a parent dealing with children who have selective hearing, and He knows how to call out those children for bad behavior too.

Spiritually speaking, I can identify with my selective hearing son.  I have all the tools at my disposal to be a good listener.    I have a loving parent who has laid out the rules with clarity and placed them in my hands--The Bible.

Yet, I jump on my bike with determination.  With my head down, I pedal like crazy towards emanate danger.  God's Word is yelling to me like a caring parent, "Stop!"  Still I petal on ignoring my Father's warnings because my spiritual ears have "Selective Hearing."

We may have "Selective Hearing" but I'm thankful God doesn't.  

Hear my cry, O God;
Attend to my prayer.

From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

 For You have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy. 

 I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;
I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.

Psalm 61:1-4 (NKJV)