The rumble of traffic outside the gate. A chorus of birds waking up for the day. An ambulance siren in the distance. A friendly walker wishing me a good morning. The hum of an air conditioner. A gurgling creek. The whistle of a train. Birds calling to one another. The sound of a helicopter overhead. The rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. Sounds that greet me on my 6 a.m. walk.
Some sounds come and go. But the rumble of traffic never stops. And the singing of birds never stops. These are the constants in my 6 a.m. world. I live within the city limits and the sounds of civilization are real. I live in a gated community with trees and flowers and a creek running through it. The sounds of nature in my community are real. Which sounds will capture my attention? I choose to tune out the traffic and listen to the birds.
As my morning walk comes to an end, the introverted part of me would like to keep walking all day long. Communing with God and enjoying nature 24/7 is an appealing thought. But the steady rumble of traffic in the background reminds me of a world of men and women and children. And the same God who walks with me each morning is the God who says “love your neighbor as yourself.”
As I leave my gated world and enter the world of people, new sounds greet my ears. I hear gentle, encouraging, positive voices. I hear grumbling, cynical, negative voices. And steady in the background of my heart, I hear the still small voice of my God reminding me that He is with me. Lord, may Your love flow through me to each person I meet today.
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