Listen to the whisper, don't wait for the brick.

‘Listen to the whisper, don’t wait for the brick’ …..
Have you ever had a feeling that something or someone was giving you a message, it was for your ears only and you sort of sensed it rather than heard it. Not necessarily something bad. It could have been as simple as a sudden change of mind.
When driving your car, you have suddenly slowed down for no particular reason. Then right around the next bend you are confronted by a large herd of cows, or there is a dog in the road. If you can recall a similar incident then you have definitely heard a whisper. You may believe that angels are talking to you, children may think they are hearing from an imaginary friend. Christians know the whisper as the promised helper, the Holy Spirit. You may simply call it intuition. One thing is undeniable, there is a whisper that prompts us to stop, look and listen. What we need to do is listen to the whisper, don’t wait for the brick. In other words if you miss the prompting you may regret it later. This whisper is not terrifying, it is a gentle nudge. It is not an audible voice but unless you get into the practice of listening for it you will be missing out on one of life’s wonderful resources.
We have all at some time or other said, ‘I heard that but I just did not listen’. Some people talk about a ‘gut feeling’, this is the whisper. Do apply for that job, do phone that friend, do get a check up.. etcetera… Let’s not bring in the word ‘premonition’ because this often means foreboding, it usually comes in the form of a dream or vision. What I am talking about a still small voice that guides the human spirit. It is a good, well meaning whisper. If you remember our Edgecumbe earthquake in ‘87 you will be aware that there was only one death. Sad as this was, the deceased actually died of a heart attack and not as a direct result of quake damage. A true story regarding that disaster has always stayed in my memory. A devout Christian phoned his Pastor on Saturday night to say that he would not be in Church on Sunday. He explained that he had been told (the whisper) there was going to be an earthquake and that he was to set aside a day of prayer, specifically to pray that there would be no loss of life. The quake struck on the afternoon of March 2nd. Seven minutes prior to the major shake something quite unusual happened. The district was hit by a substantial, pre-jolt. School children and factory employees evacuated to safety just before the main shock. Miraculously no one was killed. Just a coincidence, or had someone listened to the whisper. What I am talking about is a feeling in the heart, deep down in your very soul. You cannot explain it but it has caught your attention. Not really your conscience, that is more of a moral reminder or maybe a guilt trip. This whisper tells you to open the door slightly and if it opens wider, go on through.
A farmer will hear the whisper and in the middle of the night, for no apparent reason , get up and go check that his stock are all right. A mother will settle her infant into bed and then hear a whisper that says I had better check again.
However you recognize the whisper, know this, it is on your side. It is yours and yours alone. You can share the benefits of it but it is a blessing just for you. If you do not know what on earth I am talking about then you need to find a quiet place and just listen. Listen to the whisper don’t wait for the brick.