Logos -- 1 Samuel 3:1-10

One of the lectionary readings for the week is I Samuel 3:1-10. This is the passage in which Samuel, as a boy, hears God calling him. He thinks it is Eli, the priest, who is asking for him to come, so he keeps answering the call by going to Eli. Eli finally tells him that it is God, and that he should listen. Clued in, Samuel pays attention.

I noticed a few things about the passage:

• Samuel is sleeping in the temple, right next to the room with the ark of the covenant. In other words, Samuel was as close to God as he could get. Even this close, he doesn't recognize God's voice. Sometimes we're like that. God could be standing right in front of us, and we don't know it.
• Samuel doesn't recognize that God is calling him until Eli tells him so. There are times when we are Samuel, needing help to find God, and there are times when we are Eli, called by God to point out His presence to someone else. We need to be open to both possiblities.
• God doesn't give up. Even though Samuel remains oblivious, God keeps calling.
• God tells Samuel that He is going to do something which will cause the both of the ears of those who chose to listen to tingle. How about that? There are times when I would like to say to someone, "God is about to do something so unexpected and wonderful that even your ears (both of them) will tingle." Do we believe in possibilities like that?

Images: Stained glass window at Trinity UMC, Pt. Pleasant, and the same window, reflected in the doorway.