The sound of a buzzing mosquito just now passed my ear. It is on my list of things I would rather not hear along with a fly buzzing my face at two A.M. They share the list with the squalling of tires on the highway behind me, my barber saying, “I’m sorry,” my doctor telling me he is going to do a bone marrow test, the pounding of hammers at 6 AM on weekends, the dental hygienist saying, “Oh, I think the doctor needs to look at this,” the gagging sound of my dog in the living room and the sputtering of the engine and then silence in a small airplane, the ringing of the phone at three AM. They are all sounds that fill me with unpleasant and often frightening memories.
Lest, you think I am a complainer I have a list of things I like hearing. I love the sound of a crying baby if limited to less than five minutes, the sound of my dog barking at the door to come inside, the siren of a police car pulling someone else over, the sound of our mailman’s truck, the sound of an ice cream truck, the continued purring of a small plane’s engine, my dental hygienist saying, “Good job,” and a congregation loudly and passionately singing a familiar hymn.
Actually the list of good sounds can be almost infinite because there are so many good things to hear. And how could I not have on my list the sound of Jesus’ voice saying, “Come ye blessed of my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” Matthew 25 That has to be the best thing anyone will ever hear.
Written by Roger Bothwell on October 1, 2013
Spring of Life Ministry, PO Box 124, St. Helena, CA 94574
Rogerbothwell.org