Five Minute Fridays: Loud

I'm joining the Gypsy Mama for her Five Minute Friday Challenges. We write because we love words and the relief it is to just write them without worrying if they’re just right or not. No editing, no back peddling. We take five minutes on Friday and write like we used to run when we were kids. On Fridays we write like we believe we can fly. Won’t you join us? Today's subject: Loud


I pull up to the stop light that was knocked out by last nights storm. It's blinking angrily at me and my head pounds--the kind of pounding where I can hear the rush of blood through veins, the evidence of a long day, a tired body, and a weary heart.

The world is loud and swirling around me--angry voices on the other side of the phone desperate for help, the constant stream of needs, and that uphill battle we fight daily here to love people well and where they are.

The radio is on blaring praise music with commercials in between that talk about 'mommy makeovers,' med-spas, and weight loss--screaming at me today that maybe I'm just not pretty/skinny/good enough.

The world is loud and either we tell it who we are, or it will tell us. Controlling, it shouts at us lies, and my headache and heartache today I'm sure are evidence of where my ears have been tuned.

But that small voice creeps in, the one that met Elijah--the one that was not in the rushing wind, nor the thunder, but that still small whipser of hope, love, and redemption.

It's barely audible above the noise of the day and I press in to hear it--because God is not a God who wishes to control. I'm thankful for that, for free-will, for the invitation to pursue Him, to seek Him, to find Him.

But my heart says back, 'Today Lord, just a little louder please. Just today.'

And then I look up because the long line of cars is finally moving, and just beyond that big red truck in front of me is this---the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen.

And it's as if I can hear Him whisper, chuckling deeply. "See? "

And I do.