I am now wearing hearing aids. The first time I had them on, I could hear the wind blowing and the birds chirping. I did not know all this was happening around me; I missed so much yet I didn’t even know it. I am glad I listened to Kak Thomas’ advice to get a hold of these aids. I am glad that I now watch television with half of the volume. I used to wonder what happened to my tv, but now I know there is nothing wrong with my tv; it’s my ears! Age is creeping up on me.

The older I get, the more I realize the importance of spending time with the Lord, reading His Word, meditating, and praying. Bishop Fulton Sheen called it, the Holy Hour. I don’t spend the whole hour; I usually spend half an hour early in the morning before I start my day. More than just spending an intimate moment with God, it also is a time of reflection and hearing. It’s more than finding what the Bible says to me; it’s listening to what God says to me through the reading of His Word or sometimes through meditating on His Word. It is in that Holy Hour that I hear Him the clearest.

It is through that Holy Hour that I am trained to hear Him speak to me by means of all that will come my way today. The Holy Hour becomes my spiritual hearing aid through which I can hear more clearly what the Holy Spirit says to me as I face daily challenges. Without the Holy Spirit’s guidance, I will be deaf or distracted by all kinds of noises.

The other day I called to reschedule my doctor’s appointment. The front desk promised to call me back, but she didn’t; so, I called back the following day. To my surprise, she asked for the information I’d given her as if I’d not talked to her and she even repeated the same questions. It’s so frustrating that even though I wasn’t rude to her, she knew I lost my patience. After I hung up, the Holy Spirit asked me to call and apologize; so, I did. I heard Him—softly but clearly.

Pastor Paul