Listening Ears

The day had been stressful and yet so full of fun. My sister, Kate, was moving back to Iowa from North Carolina. They had settled on a small town just west of Ames and today, my sisters and I were all together searching out rental homes in the area.

I was still living in North Carolina. Anne had just relocated with her family to Iowa a year or so prior. So, this day was somewhat bittersweet for me. I knew I would be losing my little sis. No more poppin in the back door to join us for dinner. No more morning walks through the mall with my kids to go see "Aunt KK" at her job. No more post-midnight painting marathons at my house, changing the wall color from beige to red in 4 hours! 

But my loss would be their gain! Anne and Kate would be less than an hour a part. Extended family would be close by and small town convenience would replace big city rush and rumble. New jobs, new climate, and now...today's purpose...a new home.

"Turn LEFT!" 

"No, wait...make that a RIGHT!"

"Shucks...I think we missed it. Did that say MARION STREET on that sign?"

"Seriously...turn around Jen! I think we missed it!"

We didn't really know what we were looking for. There wasn't much of a plan. Just three sisters who thought they could track down a nice old Iowa rental house in a day.

"STOP! STOP HERE! BACK UP! DID YOU SEE THAT ONE?"

At this point, I think I was driving. Anne was in the front seat (due to car sickness that supposedly stems from childhood), and Kate was in the backseat providing direction. Guidance was coming from all sides and it was difficult to discern, drive, and stay the course.

HAVE YOU BEEN THERE MY DEAR SISTERS?

Not in a car with your sisters looking for a rental home...but in the car of life...looking for a direction?  Searching for a purpose? Trying to discern which move to make next?

Where do I go from here God?

Which path do I follow?

What if I make the wrong choice?

Is that you God or is this something else?

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, 'This is the way-walk in it'" 

Isaiah 30:21

Listen my dear sisters....

Listen...

He is speaking.
He is talking behind you.

Whispering in your ear.

No matter which way you turn, He is there...guiding you. Keeping you on the right path.

Listen...

Dear Lord,
 Thank you for being my guide. Thank you for letting your voice rise above all others. Thank you for consistently speaking into my ear and giving me the map to your path for my life. Thank you Lord. Thank you for giving me the courage to turn to the right and to the left. Thank you Lord. Today my dear sister reminded me of the blessings our family is seeing....a son from Ghana, plans for a trip to Sierra Leone for a father and son, health, wealth, joy! Dear Lord, today I pray for every woman or man reading this...may we have ears that are open and a heart that is willing!  AMEN!