Daily Reading: 1 March
(from www.christianaid.org.uk)
Something to read
Then Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, 'Go, lie down; and if he calls you, you shall say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening." ' So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
- Full reading – 1 Samuel 3:1-9.
Something to think about
I've never been very good at visions. I'm a scientist, and I believe in things that I can see, things I can prove. And I get the feeling that the boy Samuel was a bit like this – he heard a voice and believes his senses.
He assumes that it must have been Eli, his teacher. It takes the wisdom and experience of the older man to get him to listen with his heart rather than his head.
We live in a confused and confusing world. Some of the population seems to be committed to nothing but rationality – the world of the scientists – where nothing is real unless it can be proved.
Others seem to be deep in a pick and mix spirituality filled with crystals, spirits, pseudoscience healing, and even aliens. Like Eli's time, 'the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.'
We need to pick a path through these beliefs – see the rationality and sense in science, but be aware that there is a spirit-filled life as well, the spirit and guidance of God.
There are indeed 'more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy' (Hamlet act 1, scene 5). We need to listen.
Something to do
Spend some time listening today, to the birds, to the soundscape of where you live, to someone who needs to talk, or just to the silence. And through all this sound and silence, try to hear the voice of God.
Make Pancakes using our Pancake making liturgy.
Something to pray
Help us today Lord, to listen, rather than just to hear.
A prayer for shrove Tuesday:
As we share our pancakes,
we will share our hunger for justice.
We will eat together
So we learn how to share.
We will gain strength for the journey
so that we can walk together and
find others who hunger for life.
Today's contribution is adapted from an original contribution from Suzanne Elvidge, a writer who specialises in healthcare, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, technology, business and ecological issues.