The divine is sending -- are you receiving?
Colin Treworgy
When it comes to divine guidance, I have to keep telling myself, "Listen
up!"
The supreme Counselor is always giving guidance and direction -- but
am I always listening? No matter how the divine chooses to communicate, the
important thing is to be constantly receptive. I learned the hard way that
I could do a lot better!
I played on a hockey team. It was my practice to take time alone before
games to pray for protection and guidance. Once, just as I finished praying,
I heard a voice command me, "Wear your throat guard!" (It wasn't a physical
voice, but the words came to mind with such authority, volume, and clarity
that they were like a voice to me.)
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The face mask on my helmet was driven downwards into
my throat.
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A hockey throat guard is a piece of heavy padding that wraps around
and protects a player's throat. I hadn't worn mine for several years because
it was hot and uncomfortable, but that evening as I left the locker room I
groped down to the bottom of my equipment bag, pulled out the throat guard,
and put it on.
I did not do this out of superstition, fear, or timidity -- I was simply
being obedient to what I perceived to be divine direction. Then I forgot about
it and focused on playing the game. In the middle of play, I had a high-impact
collision with another player. The face mask on my helmet was driven downwards
into my throat with such force that the heavy bracket holding the mask on
to my helmet was sheared off.
My throat guard absorbed the impact. I was unhurt.
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I was left with a nagging puzzlement.
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After an intense prayer of gratitude to God for taking care of me, I
was left with a nagging puzzlement: If the divine is guiding me, why wasn't
I told to step aside and avoid the collision instead of getting walloped?
I pondered this for a time and finally took the question upward. "Thank
you, God," I started out, "for your protection and care -- but I've been wondering.
Why did you tell me before the game to wear the throat guard instead of telling
me during the game to avoid the collision?"
Immediately the answer shot back -- "I did tell you, but at that point
you weren't listening."
No kidding! I had been totally absorbed in the game.
And I realized I had a habit of only listening for the divine guidance
at specific times -- when I was praying. But the truth is that God is constantly
giving me messages of guidance that I have access to all the time.
Since this experience, I've been striving to listen consistently for
divine direction throughout my day -- and sure enough, there it is!
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