The Third Ear
I was born with the beginning stages of a third ear. Thankfully my birth occurred before its full development on the left side of my head. Upon my arrival the doctor told my momma - “Mary, if that baby had stayed in the womb any longer, she would have a fully formed third ear.” The remnants of cartilage are still evident, and I am often asked about it. My answer to their inquiry has often been something of a nod to God’s sense of humor, and in my more serious moments I suggest that this is God’s reminder to me to listen well and listen deeply. For much of my life, I have set my intention on becoming more intimately acquainted with the sound of God’s voice.
Recently I have discovered the presence of a new duck variety on the LSU lakes. Morning visits to the lakes have revealed the sounds of the Black Belly Whistling ducks. Their whistling sound is delightful and reminds me of hearing my own father walk down the hallway of our childhood home - whistling as he went. Early October has provided hundreds of these whistlers congregating around the edges of the lake where the nesting and feeding is good. Noteworthy is the fact that their whistling sounds take on full chorus around daybreak with the happy symphony resembling the joyous chatter at a cocktail party. Sometimes the world’s chatter vies for our attention, but it is here in my quiet morning focus that I am reminded of Isaiah 50:4, “He awakens my ear to listen like one being instructed”. I get to choose to awaken to His sound. And I can also choose to hear His glorious sounds inside creation which invites me to go deeper.
Observation can be learned but it is often taught by watching others give their attention to “a thing”. The power of observation includes the gathering up of the information and connecting the dots, by which we draw out the marrow (meaning and application). Our earthly Father’s example was a prime influence in our becoming observers of the subtleties and the mysteries in life. His own life was an inquiry as to why he had been allowed to survive multiple heart attacks during his 60 years. Thankful for whatever time he had left, he actively sought to live out his days with intention and with focus on what truly mattered most in life. With eternity knocking on his heart’s doorway - We watched him be intentional, often quietly and in unspoken ways and yet always directing himself to know the Heavenly Father.
We have each been given the capacity to know God’s voice. It is hardwired into every person. He created every human soul by the sound of His voice, and this means that His divine resonance still vibrates in the DNA of mankind. Does everyone access this ability and tune their inner ear to know HIS voice? No, unfortunately they do not. For some, this sound has become altered by and redirected towards another voice, another sound. Jesus told us in the book of John that His sheep would know His voice and that they would follow after no other voice. But herein is the beauty of this journey – It is a choice. For our God is not a divine rapist, forcing us to follow His voice. Where there is force there is no choice. The magnificent choice lies inside each one, and choice implies a voluntary act of choosing and determining. The act of choice represents freedom and it is the exact opposite of domination. Luke 8:18, “Therefore consider carefully how you listen.”
Zechariah 10:8-12 “I will whistle for them to gather them together, For I have redeemed them; And they will be as numerous as they were before.” In this verse, the Lords use of a whistle refers to the instrument that is used by a shepherd when he calls for and gathers in his sheep. In 1851 Italian anatomist Alfonso Giacomo Gaspare Corti made the discovery of what we now call the organ of Corti. This little organ/harp is specific to the natural ear of man and has about ten thousand strings which vibrate and convey information to the human brain. However, the spiritual ear is a different instrument. The Word of God says that God has “planted the ear” (Psalm 94:9). It also says that “God awakens my ear to listen…” (Isaiah 50:4). And I Corinthians 2:9 says, “No eye has seen and no ear has heard and no mind conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” The secret ear is more wonderful and is able to discover that which is undetectable to the natural ear of man. The secret ear was put there by God and it is awakened by God. It behooves us to ask – To whom are we listening and how is our hearing?
He is whistling for us.
