This little poem came to me as I was sitting in a hammock on top of prayer mountain simply being, and sitting still with my eyes closed. This was during the time I was unsure of why God had brought me to this part of India. It seemed like this little village was doing just fine, that they didn’t need us. So at the top of payer mountain I prayed and I prayed that God would change my perspective on this place, that He would give me new eyes to see how I can be His hands and feet. So it was then I realized that I had been searching so hard to see how I, Hayley Grosh, could help these people, and what I could bring to them. Sadly is absolutely nothing I could do for these people. There is nothing that I can give that will bring them wealth, put food on the table for their families, or provide them a successful life. And, not gonna lie, realizing that made me feel pretty discouraged. So when I arrived here a month ago I asked God, “Why would you bring me here if there is nothing I could do?!” But He did not answer me. Instead I got silence which made me even more discouraged, naturally.
So I got my hiking shoes on and made my way to the top of prayer mountain, thinking maybe if I go somewhere else He’ll hear me better. Nope. I got there, found a hammock, started swinging, and put in my headphones ready to listen to some worship music. I was doing all things I thought I was supposed to do to be ready to talk to God.
However I was missing the whole point. God heard me. He heard me the moment I came to him. But I wasn’t ready to listen, and He knew it, and was willing to wait to talk to me until I was ready to listen.
It wasn’t until I took the earbuds out that I heard Him however. He wanted to speak to me in the sounds of his creation, nature, and his people. Here is the poem:
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The same gentle breeze meandering through the trees brings me to my knees pleading and urging me,
“Close your eyes child, be still”
I sit, let out a deep breath, and close my eyes.
It starts as a murmur, the sounds of creation begin to fill my senses and over whelm my soul
It’s starts with the chirps of crickets and then the clucks of chickens
Then the cry of a child
The symphony of Your people rise from the valley
I listen more intently
I hear a dog bark, and the scold of a mother to her chid
I hear the rushing of water from a well, the bounce of a ball
Each sound a part of Your grand orchestrated piece
The footsteps of children and the crinkle of crushed dried leaves under every step, and the start of a motorcycle engine
the sound rises up in a crescendo until it hits me like a wall.
These are Your people God
I hear them, You hear them
The prayers of your people God rise up from the valley and you come down to meet them from your throne in a passionate and overwhelming embrace, an expression of Your love
All for your people, all for love.
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I guess the lesson in all of this is that God does hear you, the moment you start speaking to Him. However He may wait to respond until you’re ready to listen.
He has responded to my question since I have asked but He hasn’t responded in words, he has used interactions with children, locals, shop owners, market place vendors and the blowing of the wind, sunrises, and the chirps of birds. I simply need to be ready to listen and to receive what He is trying to teach me, to simply love His people. Are you listening or are your just talking?
