Who is Listening?

Every two weeks, a small group of us who are older seminarians (second career or third, fourth whatever) get together for lunch on Friday at one of the local restaurants (that has good food cheap). We did this yesterday, much to my husband's delight since the refectory was serving fish and chips for lunch and Ray is not a fish aficionado.

We had been there a while eating and talking. Each of us was quite relaxed because although there was lots to be done this weekend for teaching parish and classes, we were finished with classes for the week and could let our hair down. Friday after classes is sacrosanct for this group. We do not do schoolwork on Fridays after class. That's what Saturday is for! After a while, a gentleman approached us and asked if he had heard correctly that we are involved with church and faith. We responded in the affirmative. He proceeded to ask prayer for someone he knew of that just had a baby and was in critical condition. We assured him she would be added to the prayer list and we would pray. Then he left and returned to the group he was with at his table.

We never know who is watching or listening to us, even in what we consider our time off or down time. In connection with this, I've been preparing to preach on Palm/Passion Sunday from Isaiah.

We need to be available to listen to God. But the flip side of the coin is we do not always know who or where someone may be listening to us. It might be in the most unexpected places. You never know where God may be at work.

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