Oct
22
2019
Every Time I Fly
Posted in Bible 2 Comments
I have a problem with flying.
It is not a matter of fear.
It is because of something that happens every time I fly.
Flying affects my ears.
I have heard advice after advice.
Chew gum. (I do)
Yawn. (I have tried that)
Move your jaw from side to side. (Does not do anything)
When I fly, I still bring gum with me in the hope that it will work, this time.
I have chewed two sticks of gum in a very un-lady-like manner.
I know that it will still happen.
Take off and landing is the worst.
My hearing gets muffled.
Everyone around me can be speaking but they sound as if they are aisles away.
I pray about it each time I fly.
God has graciously lessened the pain, but the stuffiness is still a problem.
When our entire family flew to Ireland five years ago, my ears were really bad.
It took days before the stuffiness was gone.
It took days until my hearing was totally clear.
I would try to pull on my ears when I thought no one was looking, but I was always caught.
Short Eustachian tubes, I was told.
My oldest daughter has the same thing.
My oldest son just told me that his ears are beginning to bother him while flying.
That was not a problem he ever had before.
I flew to Tennessee last week.
On the way there, my ears bothered me as we landed.
There had been a bit of turbulence on the flight.
I chewed gum and did all the tricks I had learned.
I went through the first day of my conference with a stuffy left ear.
I prayed that a good night’s sleep would help.
There was a wonderful concert on the first night, so I got back to my hotel later than usual.
Thankfully, by the next morning, my ear felt so much better.
I wondered about the flight home.
During take off, I knew it was happening again.
As we descended, getting ready to land, my hearing was muffled.
My husband picked me up at the airport; I know that I did not hear some of what he said.
It is a week since I have been home.
My left ear is still stuffy.
I was adjusted by my chiropractor; I took natural things to remedy the situation.
Finally, I had to go to the doctor just to be told to buy something over the counter.
The doctor gave me some suggestions for the next time I fly.
I will follow his advice and hope it makes a difference.
For now, I have to take the over the counter medicine he suggested, every twelve hours.
I pray that in a few days, my ear will not be so stuffy.
The whispers of His movement; the seemingly silent, imperceptible, sovereign moments that happen each day, the ones we often miss in our busyness and our self absorption.
I drove home and thought about the irony of the situation.
I write about the Whispers of God each day.
I write about the things I hear as I listen.
I write about the things we might miss if we do not take the time to be still.
How many people are walking around with stuffy ears to the things of God?
How many people have trouble hearing God’s voice as He speaks to our heart?
How many people are unable to hear God through His Word?
How many people struggle to hear Him over the constant noise that is all around them?
Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)
The Word needs to be preached in order for someone to hear.
The enemy of our souls would love nothing more than to put socks over our ears.
The enemy of our souls would love nothing more than for us to be unable to hear from God.
The enemy want us to have stuffy ears that are unable to hear God’s voice.
The enemy of our souls makes sure that our days are loud.
He wants no time for stillness.
He wants no time for contemplation.
He wants us to be so preoccupied with our stuffiness, we get frustrated and give up.
We have to combat the enemy’s tactics.
We have to make time for stillness so we can hear the still Voice that speaks to our heart.
We have to prepare our ears to hear.
We have to do what we can to open our ear lids and hear what God is saying to us.
Beautifully said.
Thank you, Jean.
Miss you, friend.
Gina