Listening to wisdom is not always easy
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT by Rev Lyall Rennie
I wonder if you have ever said to yourself, “If only I had listened”. Someone has given you advice, has given you the benefit of their experience and wisdom. But rather than heed their advice you have gone your own way only to regret it sometime later.
Some of the restrictions have been lifted and we have been given more freedom to make our own choices and to take responsibility for ourselves.
At the same time the medical and health experts are all advising a cautious approach and that perhaps it is too early to lift restrictions with cases of Covid-19 still at a high level.
Sadly we see many who are not listening, not taking the advice on board and are behaving as if the pandemic is over. They are not taking responsibility for themselves or those around them.
It can be hard to listen to and accept advice when it is not what you want to hear. There is the well known Biblical story of Jonah and the whale. Jonah is living quite happily in Joppa, until God makes it clear that part of his unfolding plan involves Jonah going to Nineveh and saving it from destruction.
Not the most common-sense course of action, given Nineveh’s reputation. Small wonder he headed off in the opposite direction! But after his close encounter with the whale, Jonah gives in and sees the plan through; and we’re told that the entire city was saved.
Perhaps he thought to himself, “If only I had listened”. May we learn to listen, listen to advice and listen for God’s still small voice talking to us?
