1 Kings 19: 9, 11-13 was our first reading this past weekend.
"Listen to me now and hear me later."
That's a phrase my dad would always say to me. It took me a long time to figure out what he meant by it. I can see with my son Retro the apple didn't fall far from the tree. Looking back I remember saying, "Don't open that pocket knife, you'll cut yourself." Ten seconds later knife was open and Retro needed a band aid. I hope he heard me, lucky for his other 9 fingers he lost his knife. I didn't give him this command simply to Lord my authority over him. I just knew blades, boys, and branches make a bloody combination.
Now I'm a grown man and Dad's "Listen to me know and hear me later" moments are decreasing as mine are ever increasing. But as an adult pocket knives and running barefoot on the gravel aren't the only bad decisions we can make. Let's face it, we're human and we can get ourselves in a jam. In the words of Elijah I sometimes cry out, "This is enough, O Lord!" (1 Kings 19:4). In Elijah's case it was the sorrow over how terrible Israel was acting. He couldn't take it. In fact right before the 1st reading he asks God to take his life! Must have been bad. Sounds like a rancher during a drought.
God doesn't take this lightly. He personally invites Elijah up to Mt. Horeb for a one on one conversation. Just a quick 40 day hike and fast for Elijah and he gets to the spot our weekend's readings begin. Imagine a 40 day walk to talk to God, I bet he had it all laid out by the time he got there. He had the conversation planned out just right. Then he gets there and God drops the bomb, "Why are YOU here Elijah?" Uh, uh, uh...I would stutter. Elijah rattles off his credentials and then his complaints.
God then shows Elijah that he isn't in the wind, earthquake, or fire. Remember that part? God reveals himself in a whisper...then he's ready to talk. God asks again, "why are you here?"
Now that the conversation is much calmer Elijah lays out his frustrations with the ministry of prophecy. I am a lot like this. When I first enter into a conversation with God I'm wound up and going 100 miles an hour. I rant about weather outside, people in my life, and things not going the way I thought they would. As the summer progresses it gets harder and harder to sit long enough to hear God in the whisper. This is a byproduct of neglect on my part, I don't return to what God said to me that morning. In fact a lot of times I forget. I popup from my chair and head outside ready for a day's work. Let's face it, it's hard to think of Elijah while tamping posts, riding colts, or auctioneering. It's hard to remember God's voice when the kids are fighting, whining, crying, or even playing.
So what? What are we to do?
I'm not going to waste time. We as men need to pray. All day everyday. We need to have Faith in God like Elijah to go to him with all our frustrations of the day thus far. Here's what I suggest. Read scripture in the morning and meditate on it. Then whatever phrase or word caught your attention, write it on a little piece of paper and put it in your pocket (or a calf book works!). Then periodically throughout your day pull that paper out and read it again, and let God speak to you. Today I didn't find a silent time until I was gathering hay in the field! But I found it. And that's where God will speak to you.
Elijah thought there was no hope for Israel. On his own he wasn't making a difference. After his conversation on Mt. Horeb he left full of confidence...in God. God will give you the grace to be the husband and father you need. There is nothing to do with ranching that one cannot take 10 minutes to visit with the God of the Universe. Be a man, pray, read your bible, go to Mass and Confession, TRUST in JESUS he's got this. Listen to me now and hear me later.
Peace,
Rowdy
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