As I was telling the story of missionary Adoniram Judson and his journey to Burma (now Myanmar) in Bible school last week, I had some competition. No disrespect to the teacher, but many of the kids needed to tell something or show something to the person sitting next to them. A missing tooth. A birthday. A new toy. A new baby brother or sister. My biting problem. I have to go potty.

“Wait,” I said, looking at some of the culprits. “We can’t all talk at once and it’s my turn to talk right now.” Three claps of the hand sometimes work.

We teachers act like grown-ups always listen when they’re supposed to. But we’re lying.

How many times a day am I only halfway there? “Wait. Say that again,” trying to make it seem like I was listening when I was thinking about an essay I just read, or how much the visit to the auto mechanic was going to set me back. What’s my next meeting? How many messages are waiting for me? Should I pull out my phone and look at the screen? Oh, now, what was that you were saying? I’m right there with the Kindergarteners in the front, middle or back row, halfway hearing the missionary story or the Bible story.

We aren’t very good at listening to what other people say.

Jesus kept telling people to listen. Let those with ears hear.

While we have a hard time listening, God never turns a deaf ear to us. I can always do better at listening, but I find solace in the truth that God actively listens, knows, always hears. I don’t think we really believe that’s true. We live like our sin is stronger than God’s Son. Ultimately, though, God’s listening atones for everything.

Give ear, give ear, I feel the need to complain, to pour out the words of my Easter Saturday sadness and pain. Spring, summer, autumn, I wonder, do you hear me? Perhaps I don’t even think about you. Do you know and care? Are you really there? Even more to the point: if you should answer, do I hear you?

Where can I go that you cannot hear? What words can I think that you do not see? If I wonder where you were when my best friend died, your listening ear is not stopped; it does not hide. Right there, that’s where. Even if I wander down the street of my grand illusion of want, or the anger or shame of my ghostly haunt, still you hear without being called. When I ask the world why, I’m talking to you. Eyes to hear, ears to see.

Into your hands I commit my words. You hear even the words I cannot speak, the ones I don’t even know I have.

With you there is only nearness, shear nearness; even and ever, you are here, not over there but right here, closer than my imagination dreams.

Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily!
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me!

For you are my rock and my fortress;
    and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me;
you take me out of the net they have hidden for me,
    for you are my refuge.
Into your hand I commit my spirit;
    you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

Psalm 32:2-5