Even as I shut my eyes and imagine a calm sunny day, I can see others in trouble.  Someone has just lost the job that paid the bills.  The change had nothing to do with individual performance.  Sometimes external events overwhelm anything one might do.  Another has discovered that the tumor continues to grow without restraint.  Despite a sense of hope that treatment brings, the awareness of life’s uncertainty is overwhelming.  A third is dealing with the death of family and friends.  While I struggle with the emotions that come from looking with open eyes, I know that I am potentially missing a call from Divinity.  You and I have an open invitation to make compassion real.  We can be God’s hand and voice in the lives around us.  We can be the difference.

I peak and discover that the storm has moved closer.  I desperately hope that it will pass.

I close my eyes again.  In my mind’s sight, I can see others hard at work.  It seems that shopping has no limits.  Spending, acquiring, and seeking are the priorities of the day.  David’s question haunts my view; “Why is everyone hungry for more?  ‘More, more,’ they say.  ‘More, more.’  I have God’s more-than-enough, more joy in one ordinary day than they get in all their shopping sprees.” (Psalm 4.6, 7)

Evan as I go to share, I realized that the question was never pointed at others.  It is one that I am being asked to answer.  As the words form on my lips, I hear the simple instruction.  ‘I am not interested in words.  Your thoughts are a whisper of what might be.  Your voice is found in your action.’

I can still hear the call to move forward.  The volume is as loud as at any time in my life.  I am confident we can do more.  I can see possibilities.  Life invites and demands our engagement.

There is a “but” in my vision.  In contrast to the view of my youth (and the challenge to boundaries), I do not believe we are called to constant action.  In everything there is a season and time for us to act.  There are also times where the best we can and should do is rest.  Rest in its own way is a conscious choice.  When one has prepared, wait.  David’s words still ring true; “Build your case before God and wait for his verdict.” (Psalm 4.5)

I find intentional resting always comes before effective action.  It is never passive.  It is a time to listen and hear what Divinity has to say.  It is a time to see the beauty that is around us.

I wish I had understood the wisdom of timing in my younger days.  I sense that I could have been more effective than I was.  I know I have the opportunity to learn.  I can make a difference – to my community and for myself.  While yesterday is here for my learning, the questions always rest in the present.  What will I do now?  Is it time to act or wait?  Asking the question is the start.

I knew that some in the gallery had first hand views.  There were those that could identify which facts were real as well as the portions that were myth.  In short, there were those that knew yet were saying nothing.  The silence was, to me, louder than the intense debate underway.

It is hard to know what someone else should do.  The scene still haunts me yet it is repeated between friends in sports, colleagues in public services, and people on the street every day.  How far can and should we go?  What are the limits that demand one to engage?  Does one always stand up for a friend, no matter what the cost?

Having played every role in the scene, I know that I do not always live the answer.  At best, I aspire to do take the right action, often unsure what it is or when I should act.  The mantras I hold onto for guidance include the following three.

Always try to care enough to step away from the debate at hand.  If a response is required, “complain if you must, but don’t lash out. Keep your mouth shut, and let your heart do the talking.” (Psalm 4.4)

If support is missing or hiding, suggest you are willing to go on a quest to find the facts in the issue at hand.  Expressing a willingness to see differently can open doors to a process of walking with another.

Weigh the cost of continuing the fight.  At times, the person with the greatest mettle walks away from a fight s/he can win because it is the compassionate response.

Our world is fractured. Adversity and storms are overwhelming.  In the now, you and I can make a difference.

My memories of those days are sketchy.  If you had painted a picture of the future, I would have laughed and walked away in disbelief.

Decades later, I look at HDB communities differently.  If I am looking for local coffee and great food, HDB Food Courts (hawker food) is the venue of choice!  When I think of places I recommend people consider living, a HDB flat is near the top of the list.  For shopping, HDB markets have options open 24 hours a day.  Most importantly, food options are there for those willing to experience something very different.

As I enjoyed the dishes, I found myself looking across tables filled with people involved in each other’s lives.  The towering blocks are their homes, but life is often lived out over the community table – sharing food, enjoying a conversation, and settling debates.  Whatever you might say, this community cared about each other.  The laughter, scolding debates, and quiet conversations told a story of people involved in each other lives.

As I watched and listened, I could see God at work.  I wondered where the community stopped.  I concluded that it went as far as I could see and probably father. Someone had called, Divinity had answered.  Old words rang true; “Look at this: look who got picked by God! He listens the split second I call to him.” (Psalm 4.3)

The food was a great discovery.  I have been reminded of more.  It is encouraging to see God engaged in life’s fine print.

I did not recognize the group last night.  The innocence was gone.  The naïve arrogance has disappeared.  In their place, I found well thought out ideas, patience, and questions.

The room had a clear buzz.  I did not sense the ignorance from before.  What I saw was individuals aware that they did not know the answers.  Each appeared to understand that there was hard work ahead; that many would fail.  They were eager to get on with the battle.

What made the difference?  It would have been easy to dismiss everyone in the early rounds.  I can imagine the condemnation; “You rabble – how long do I put up with your scorn? How long will you lust after lies? How long will you live crazed by illusion?” (Psalm 4.2)  Yet, a group of mentors, anchored by just a few, believed.  In their belief, they patiently worked with each from where s/he was.  Compassion, kindness, and hope were freely dispensed.  Truth was shared with a reminder that they were on their side – ready to help at each step.

I found myself caught up in a mentoring model that I believe with my heart and mind.  It is one where we stand beside each other for the long haul.  We strive and fight as one, responsible for our actions yet working for the common good.

I came away from our session wondering who was teaching whom.  I found a new model of engaged living that is real, tangible, and making a difference in individual lives.  I have new friends sharing the journey.

“Can you not tickle me?  I do not like it.  I need to know you are on my side.  If you are, you will not do this.”

The request was simple.  It was called for a yes/no.  What struck me was the candid admission that another needed to know I was on her/his side.  The words, especially when combined with the look in the eyes, went straight to my heart.  Was I willing to support and defend?

The question has remained with me since.  It is an important one to me, so I try to renew my answer each day.

I have come to see that as I answer I am also asking.  While there are those around me receiving the question, my question is usually directed towards God.  “When I call, give me answers. God, take my side! Once, in a tight place, you gave me room; now I’m in trouble again: grace me! Hear me!” (Psalm 4.1)

Asking the question is critical.  If I had been asked, it is likely that I would have missed the opportunity.  Even with the question and response, experience reminds me that knowing is a two-way street.  Asking and acting is not the end of the story.  Experiencing the actions and acknowledging the outcome is closes the loop.  In my story, this is especially important when it comes to God.  My acknowledgement opens doors to More.  It is a cycle the feeds on itself, teaching me the depths of God’s compassion and engagement in my life.

At times, I still wonder.  Doubt, fear, and uncertainty are a big part of our stories.  Knowing is more than just action; it finds wholeness in our reflection as we see, hear, and understand compassion that lives.

For me, the breakthrough came in an unexpected way, literally.  In a conversation with what most faith systems would call a non-believer, I found myself hearing God’s voice.  I realize that admission sounds odd.  I could rephrase my explanation.  In a casual conversation with a friend, I heard words of truth.  It was more than facts as accurate as they were.  It was more that insight as powerfully revealing as they were.  It was timely, insightful, and hope-filled words that Divinity had tailored for me.  I knew it as I heard the words.

As I stepped away from the conversation, I realized that God is actively talking in my life.  I do not think I am particularly special.  I think God speaks to every child in the family – including you by the way!

The insight did not come with any sense of the negative.  The past is already history.  We can learn from it and in the moment at hand do something different.  For me, it is a fresh awareness that there are fresh opportunities in your life and mine.  We have the freedom to do something with it.  David’s old words ring true in fresh new ways; “Real help comes from God. Your blessing clothes your people!” (Psalm 3.8)

For me, it is time to do something with the gifts of the day.  God is willing to be a partner.  Together, the impossible is possible.

As I find myself looking back, I find myself in renewed agreement with the point of view that emotions are not, in themselves, right or wrong.  They simply are.  What follows is often for me a struggle.  Will I use them for something helpful, or will I give in to the need to act immediately?  Perhaps you have it all figured out.  In my case, I find myself holding onto these mantras.

Recognizing your emotions opens up the possibility for an intentional response.  Denying their existence has never been helpful for me.  When I given them voice, I find myself open to a process of understanding myself.  David was candid with God about his emotions – “Up, God! My God, help me! Slap their faces, first this cheek, then the other, your fist hard in their teeth!” (Psalm 3.7)  For both of us, it helped.

Recognition is not the same as understanding.  The latter, for me, takes time.  It may not be long, but it is more than I realize.  I often take a deep breath and within my mind tell myself that I am not going to act for a period of time.  Then, and only then will be the time to put things motion.

Emotions often reveal more than I realize.  In being open to hear what I am feeling and experiencing within, I find myself seeing a story that is greater than the moment.  We are part of a bigger story and our emotions are a gateway to hearing and seeing.

Candor can be useful, in context.

The conversation was not easy.  I was left tired, exhausted, and uncertain.  These are not the reasons the conversation is still vivid.  With a bit of rest and reflection, I realized that I could see the points raised.  While I did not agree with every point, I was richer for the dialogue.  As I woke, I also realized that I was filled with energy and hope!  I knew that the document we were working on could be stronger.  I understood some of the missing points.

I look back with admiration on the courage of any that cares enough to share their views.  It is a gift.  In my case, I discovered that there was a recurring model that I want to embrace more willingly.  David put it this way; “With all my might I shout up to God, His answers thunder from the holy mountain.  I stretch myself out.  I sleep. Then I’m up again – rested, tall and steady, fearless before the enemy mobs coming at me from all sides.” (Psalm 3.4-6)

Having honest conversations is not always easy.  Experience reminds me that they are openings to more.  We can be more than who and what we are.  We can do more than what we have done.

Hearing often takes longer than a conversation.  For me, reflection and quietness often releases a broader understanding of the words and intent.  Whatever the vehicle is, my suggestion is to use it.

Life offers us wisdom in many ways.  Difficult conversations are part of that gift.  How useful they turn out to be depends on what you and I do with them.

I look at the voices I recognize as well as those I do not, I find myself reaching for mantras that help me understand them for what they are.

God is actively engaged – in your life as well as my own.  In my experience, I find there is as least one God whisper in my life each day.  At times, I only recognize that God was speaking until well after the fact.  I also know that there is a correlation between being alert and hearing.  If I want to hear, the whispers will be waiting for me.

Not every voice that touches are our hearts is from God.  One must exercise care.  This includes measuring the source, understanding its power and intent, giving it the respect that it deserves.  The God I know never forces Divine will on me; freedom is far too important.  God’s foundation is love.  Without it, nothing matters.

When we recognize God’s voice, it is helpful to acknowledge it with a complement to the messenger.  I have found that many are vehicles without knowing God’s intent, so the compliment is directed to them alone.  I sense that God knows the fullness of our remarks.  The key is our acknowledgement and appreciation regardless of the form it takes.

A warning from experience: the fact that God is talking and we are listening is not a leading indicator for smooth sailing ahead.  In any circumstance, whispers are welcome.