Is he speaking?

One of the lectionary readings today was from 1 Samuel. It is the passage in which God speaks to Samuel. As I looked at it earlier this week, my thoughts have centered around the repetitiveness of God's call, about how we point to God for each other, how we sometimes don't hear God....

I overlooked the idea of God speaking to a 12 year old.

Our associate pastor asked the youth today what God was saying to them about their faith. They all kind of looked at him as if they had never thought of the idea of God speaking to them, personally.

Do we teach our kids that God will communicate with them, if they they will listen? Do we admit that to ourselves? Do we think that kids don't have relationships with God? Do we just assume that God will be silent with children and youth?

The news that God shared with Samuel was heavy and stunning. God knows us and God knows his children. He knows what to tell them.

Maybe we just don't expect that he will.