Hearing His Whisper

Mary and I aren’t big on middle of the night interruptions. An inadvertent car alarm, a barking dog, quarreling neighbors or a racing Harley would at the very least be an annoyance. But when a recent interruption brought unexpected wonder and delight, we welcomed the loss of sleep it caused.

Last fall we discovered a family of owls roosting in the Ponderosa pine trees close to our house. Our evening routine included a walk to watch the beautiful birds as they perched, still and almost invisible, in the dusk. Mary learned to spot the owls in the fading light so we reveled in the beauty every evening.

Within a couple of weeks of this discovery we began to be awakened by the intermittent hooting of our owl neighbors. Sometimes the sound was vague and distant, and other times it seemed to be right next door, but it was always welcome..

The owls are a soothing reminder of the Creator’s unmistakable whisper. They remind me of the Father’s warm hands and words of peace. Whenever we hear the owls, Mary celebrates, and has taught me to do the same.

The Holy Spirit rarely screams to make His voice heard. Instead, He breaks through the darkness in whispered tones—with words of comfort, conviction, hope and victory. He speaks with mellow warmth and startling clarity.

Listen carefully. Welcome God’s subtle whisper in your life.