It must happen at least once a day.
My older son will send me an email with a link to an article he liked or my younger son will say, “Dad, you’ve got to listen to this song” and slip some earphones over my head to hear some screaming rock lyrics I can barely understand or my wife will mention a book she really liked that I have no intention of reading or a dear friend will post something on Facebook that I skip across, scrolling right down.
What’s this got to do with spiritual growth? It sort of depends on how you think God speaks to you. Yes, through scripture, yes through prayer, yes through that double rainbow that you saw over the trees at sundown. But also yes through the people you love and the sometimes seemingly mundane things they love.
When I have a song I want to share or a quote that catches my eye or an article that seems like a “must read” or a link I’m putting up on Facebook, it’s usually because I’m moved and I want to share what’s moved me. All those little things people are “liking” and sharing are ways of speaking through the heart, and whenever any of us speaks through the heart we’re looking to share our soul.
“Love one another,” Jesus said, “as I have loved you.” It must make the angels weep when they see us yearning for love and then skipping all the clues our loved ones give us of how to love.
So here’s my note to self: Don’t just count the minutes when you’re listening to your son’s favorite rock song. It might not be your music, but it’s his and he’s doing something precious by letting you in on what makes him spin. No, it’s probably not going to be something you’re going to download yourself, but he’s just given you a chance to download part of him. Don’t miss that.
