We slept with the windows wide open in the summer with hopes of catching a cool breeze. Most of the time only noise came in, sometimes the distant horn from a Chicago and Northwestern train. In the winter the windows were shut tight blocking any sound, especially when a heavy snowfall muffled everything. I remember, though, one night in late January when it had been snowing all evening. Most of us were tucked safely in bed, but around ten o’clock I could hear the scraping sound of a snow shovel. My father had come home late from a meeting, but was out shoveling snow. It had to be done. There would be no time in the morning. Dad’s did whatever needed to be done for the sake of the family.

I was thinking about the sounds in the night in the life of Jesus– the angels voices heard by the shepherds, the whispering of Nicodemus talking to Jesus in secret, the shouts of the angry mob coming for Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, the cock crowing after Peter denied knowing Jesus. The Son of God came among us, taught, suffered, and died. He did whatever needed to be done for the sake of humanity.

Do you know these lines from Daniel Schutte’s song “I the Lord of Sea and Sky?”*

    I have heard you calling in the night.
    I will go, Lord, if you need me.
    I will hold your people in my heart.

Are we ready to do whatever needs to be done for the sake of others?

Read 1 Samuel 3:1-10 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne

*Lutheran Book of Worship #574.