I was on a mission as I walked down the hall to the other side of the school. As a first year principal, I needed to know something and I wanted to ask the person face to face rather than through an email or phone call. It would also give me a chance to get to know this teacher a little better. On my way there I must have been stopped at least 10 times by students and staff alike. All were asking me different questions – some simple and easy to answer, and other questions needed to be addressed later after some careful thought. By the time I got to my original destination, I had forgotten why I was there. I said ‘Hi’ and we had a nice little conversation, but I didn’t remember what I wanted to ask – until I got back to my office. I then sat at my desk trying to remember and answer all the different questions that had gotten asked of me as I walked down the hall – I remembered some, but not all.
I have a good memory – heck, I was still in my 30’s so age couldn’t be an issue. What was I going to do? I had to come up with a plan so this didn’t happen again. If you know anything about a school, this many questions and distractions come every hour on the hour at an alarming pace. So at the next staff meeting I told the teachers to always feel free to stop me and ask questions, but to follow it up with an email or I may forget. I told them the story, and to not be offended, but that the email would help me remember the conversation we had earlier in the day. This little tweak helped me tremendously in my communications.
Our lives are all so busy and distractions come from everywhere. These distractions create so much noise – from work, phone calls, text messages, social media, music, TV, kid’s sports, etc.… Do you ever slow down a minute and turn down the noise? Do you turn off your cell phone, TV or radio long enough to listen? Some people wonder why they never hear from God, or don’t know what he wants for their lives. The bible tells us to slow down, to be still. The bible also tells us that God is not in the storms, not in the earthquakes, not in the fire, but in the still small voice.
I Kings 19 11-12 ~ “Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.
Psalm 46:10 ~ “Be still, and know that I am God!
“Dear Lord, we have such busy lives that we forget to slow down and hear your still small voice. Help us to slow down, to be still and to listen for you. It’s in Jesus name I pray, Amen.”