(Packing, packing, packing!!!! We're doing really well but because we are busy with boxes, brooms and mops I haven't got much time to chat so here is another story I wrote while working with prostitutes. Enjoy. This one always makes me stop and think.)

HAVING EYES TO HEAR

Today has been one of those "hard" days. The kind where you just want to lie on your bed and think about anything but what you have just done. Then kind where you just want to hide from the world and it's cruelty.

Today I helped tell a woman that she has AIDS. It's not a regular part of my job. In fact I haven't done it before but today was different. This woman required "special" treatment. Not only is she supporting two young daughters through her prostitution she is also both deaf and mute.

The news we had to give her was horrendous, made all the more difficult through an inability to communicate (on both sides).

We tried everything. We yelled at her (just in case she could hear). We tried sign language. We tried reading and writing, drawing, even charades. All to no avail. We became incredibly frustrated at our inability to give her some life changing news and she became frustrated at "hearing" something she would rather just ignore. In the end we believe she could lip read hence the news was given to her in this way but trying to keep her eyes on us was another thing. How seemingly easy it was for her to look away; to shut out the message that was being given to her and all the long term affects that it would have on her life.

I've thought about communication a lot today and I can't help but wonder if sometimes God feels like I did. There are many times in our lives when He wishes to tell us something and yet we choose to ignore Him. We choose to not see His lips, His handiwork as He communicates to us about every aspect of our lives and His purpose for it. Yes, there are times when the message is beautiful, soft, a delight to receive. In those times it is easy to have open ears and eyes....but what about those times when the message is a little more difficult?

Effective communication requires a willing communicator and a willing listener. Too often we are willing to communicate but how often do we actually take the time out to listen, to really listen to the One who desires to communicate with us in so many loving ways. Take time today to sit and listen. Be sure to use both your eyes and ears to hear all that the Lord wishes to say to you.