Blessed is the one who hears the joyful sound.
Everybody has sounds that are an inspiration to them as well as sounds that irritate them.
One of my joyful sounds is the roar of a motorbike on full throttle.
Another is kids at play. Their sounds are so expressive and innocent.
Another of my joyful sounds is the church fully engaged in worship. There is nothing like it.
Sitting here at Starbucks Mooloolaba listening to the sounds of people enjoying a morning coffee is also like sweet music to the ears.
Truth is – you must choose to hear the joyful sound.
It is possible to hear life through distorted attitudes so that everything you hear is changed and is no longer a joyful pleasant sound.
Something said as a joke becomes a personal attack. Something said in passing becomes the foundation for a whole series of negative responses.
When you lose the capacity to hear life as a joyful sound, life then becomes a cacophony of discordant conversations rather than a symphony of voices in harmony together.
When your partners voice no longer brings joy – choose to hear the joyful sound. When the voice of your leader ceases to produce a joyful response – choose to hear the joyful sound.
You must choose. Your circumstance may not have changed but you can choose to hear different sounds within the same jungle.
Don’t keep listening for sounds in the darkness of suspicion. Remember that joy comes in the morning so wake up and choose to hear the sounds of the day. Listen to and speak sounds of the day. Only say things you can share in the light, and you will find your world starts to sound joyful again.
