Ear buds have become common place in today’s culture and society. 

There are those that wear two and I would suppose they are tuning into music and tuning out the world. 

And there are those who were just one and most of the time they’re  talking on the telephone and it appears they’re talking to themselves.  So you never know when to ask a question in fear of interrupting either of the two.  

I’ve seen those who share them so they can listen to the same music at one time. Ten times out of ten they are teenage girls.  

And yes… even I wear them.  But only when I’m on the plane as noise canceling, or if I want to watch a movie on my phone or listen to a little music and while I am walking through the airport.  I wear two on the plane and one in the airport. 

But the real question comes… am I just listening to what is around me or do I add to the act of listening hearing to the act of hearing… doing?

More important am I listening to what the Lord of all heaven and earth is calling me to?

To hear first I must listen for I cannot hear…unless I am listening. 

The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10 niv)

Then is the responsibility when I do hear from the Lord… to follow Him

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. ( John 10:27 KJV)

Finally, hearing becomes… doing. 

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. ( James 1 :22-25 NKJV)

So every day, each minute and every hour I pray that I am listening for Your still quiet voice O’ Lord and in all the clatter and the noise that the world has in front of me, that I would hear Your words of wisdom, encouragement and love and then act on what You have called me to do.