30 Days of Hearing

Day 1: Footsteps

This morning, as I sat in bed, sipping my morning coffee and “coming to,” I reminded myself that today was the beginning of 30 Days of Hearing. About that moment, I “heard” footsteps. David was walking from the kitchen toward the stairs to bring me a refill of coffee (yes, I am totally spoiled—I admit it!) and I heard his familiar slippered steps padding up the stairs. I felt grateful as I heard him come.

Footsteps—sometimes barely perceptible, at other times sharp and distinctive—stir a host of feelings from joy and anticipation to fear and dread. I recall hearing the footsteps of a toddler approaching the side of my bed to crawl in; or the footsteps of my grown daughter, clopping around in her high-heels; or the footsteps of a stranger walking behind me in a parking lot. Each evoked strong feelings just from hearing the sound.

The way we feel when we hear the sound of someone’s steps has to do with whether we know them and what we think they are coming for. Adam and Eve heard God’s footsteps in the garden and were filled with dread and fear. “Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.” (Genesis 3:10)

Here is a question for spiritual direction: If you heard God’s footsteps coming toward you, how would you feel? Why? What does that tell you about your relationship with God?