Ears to Hear

I am writing the ending of my next novel this week, and my head is swirling with things that still must happen. All those little loose ends. Oh, and it's the last in the series, so there are series' loose ends to tie up too. Help! My brain is about to explode!

Anyway, my exploding brain has no room for a creative blog post to spill from. So I am sharing something I wrote eight years ago. It still applies today. May the question toward the end challenge you as it does me.

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About Edvard Munch’s famous 19th century expressionism painting The Scream (small version shown at left; click painting for link to larger version), John Fischer wrote in a devotional, "In the artist’s own words, the inspiration for this painting came when an unexplainable sense of dread overcame him while out walking with two of his friends. 'My friends walked on—I stood there, trembling with fear. And I sensed a great, infinite scream pass through nature.'"

Later, John wrote, "This is not a painting of a human being on a bridge surrounded by landscape; it is an abstract capturing of the human soul. It is a painting of the state of mind that many people are in today. We live in a time of momentous fear. Terrorism and economic hardship grip many people, but their screams are mostly silent. Those who could help are walking away. Where are you in this picture?"

Excellent question. Disturbing question. How many silent screams do I have my back toward?

Lord, give me ears to hear the frightened, hurting, lost world around me. Let me walk toward those in need and not away. Give me Your heart of compassion. And Jesus, when I am afraid, don't let me scream silently. Bring me to You. Amen.

~robin