Broken headphones can SPEAK! A simple little lesson.

As many of you know, I host the morning breakfast show on RainbowFM 90.7 daily from 6-9am.  I enjoy every minute on air with my two crazy co-hosts but it doesn't come without some challenges. 
Waking up early is still the hardest part for me and most mornings I am thankful that it is radio and not TV.

 



A Real challenge we experienced recently was one that affected our show more than we realised.  One of the knobs that controls the headphone volume at one of the seats was broken and resulted in one of us not being able to hear when we were 'On AIR'.  It was extremely frustrating for whoever ended up at that seat because that person was expected to just "make do without it".  We tried to turn the knob differently, or increase the in studio volume in attempt to have some of the sound bleed through but it was more trouble than it was worth and we eventually just resorted to getting by without it until it was fixed.  Technicians would come and have a look at it whenever they could. There was no urgency from their side.

I would occasionally pick the phones up and hope for a miracle but it just wasn't happening and so I made peace with it and forgot about using it too. And so for about a week or two they just lay there on the counter and we all just pretended that those headphones were not even there.

But then last week, something amazing happened... I tried the phones again and ... IT WORKED.  I could hear clearly. And I could turn the knob again to control my volume. 
I was so excited and couldn't wait to announce to the rest of the team that it had been fixed, but they were hardly even moved by my emotion.  Thato's response was "Oh ja, it's been working for like two days already... it's been fixed."

AND THEN THE LESSON HAPPENED. . .

I had just missed out on about 2 days worth of good quality sound because I had become so used to a certain other "noise".  I had settled for the mediocre "sound" and had started accepting the negative report the situation had presented us with.  I had given up on checking the progress of the repairs, or checking for an improvement and had stopped expecting a change. 

How often don't we do that in life?  We stop putting on our "LIFE HEADPHONES" to hear more.  We become so used to all the noise and voices coming at us.  We used to be able to filter the good ones from the bad ones in order to hear what we needed to, but after a while everything just sounds so overwhelming that we just STOP LISTENING ALTOGETHER.  And that's the dangerous part...

By being apathetic we miss out on some important things we need to hear.  We don't hear reminders of some of the promises we'd already received.  We don't hear the alarms signalling time to take action for some important things we need to do.  We don't hear the cries for help from those who may be standing right in front of us screaming at the top of their lungs; and we even stop hearing the still small voice that gives direction, peace and instruction. 

I have found myself having to put my headphones back on recently.  I have had to do that in order to drown out some wrong background noise again in order to focus on hearing correctly so that I can be 'On Cue' all the time and bring my 'A-Game'.  I have needed to turn up the volume when I replayed some of those previous promises.  I've had to hear them LOUD & CLEAR again in case I had forgotten.

Although some of the sounds are the same as before, you'd be surprised at how you might just hear some new details for the first time...

TAKE THE TIME TO LISTEN AGAIN...

Be Encouraged.
D

Something I can NEVER be.

She walked through the door yesterday and immediately commented on the lovely smell of food that dominated the whole house. It was one of my first attempts at making a meal that required some real cooking skills, and when she complimented me, I attributed the ability to make a good cabbage stew to my dad who had made it so often while I was growing up. As usual, I was sensitive to the fact that she no longer has a dad.

The conversation swiftly moved to something she was burning to share with me all day. Her eyes lit up (as they always do when she is passionate about something) as she literally preached a mini sermon to me about being "pregnant with purpose".  Every word she spoke resonated deep within me but I continuously found myself having to fight the distracting thoughts and questions that flooded my mind while I was trying to stay engaged in the conversation. Her beauty still captures me and my appreciation for her depth grows daily but a quick little chat like the one from last night leaves me in such awe of the helper God has chosen for me. 

Hours after I have meditated on her words which re-ignited purpose, I find myself pondering about the one question that often leaves me feeling a very familiar and insatiable emotion.
WHAT WOULD HER PARENTS THINK IF THEY SAW HER NOW? I ask myself this question so often and although I can never give a convincing answer that will put it to rest forever, I manage to gather up enough faith to know beyond the shadow of a doubt they would have no choice but to be nothing but exceptionally proud of the woman she is today. 

I am almost able to move on from that question quite easily but the sequel question keeps me meditative for a much longer period. WHAT WOULD THEY THINK OF ME?

She raises that discussion on numerous occasions when she misses them, and often our conclusions match whatever the mood is when we talk about it, but this time a new reality dawned on me.  I realise for the first time that there is a role in my life I will NEVER experience.  I will never be a "SON-IN-LAW".  That feeling leaves me feeling a bit incomplete.

I can't help but wonder what kind of Son-in-Law I would have been to her parents.  Would I have won her mom's heart? Would I have earned her dad's respect?  Would I behave differently in certain situations if the daily mom and daughter chats or weekend trips to her folks was commonplace? Would I work harder to prove myself worthy of the honour of loving her (my wife) as Christ loves the church? Would I be intimidated by the knowledge that daddy is watching to see how I treat his little girl and would I be working endlessly at preventing her mom from uttering words of disapproval in her choice of a husband?

While I do live with an awareness that she is God's daughter first, and He is always watching; a part of me still feels a bit robbed of an opportunity to make my mark in an area so many strive to please in.  Though it seems at times that the eyes of the world are watching to see how I fair as a husband, I will never experience the affirmation I have worked to attain since I was still just a boy.  The lovely remarks from moms with available daughters and the invites to braais from dads who wanted to check me out as a potential candidate for their princesses was but only a foretaste of the accolades I was determined to earn. 

I am a great brother, a model son, a selfless friend... and tons of other ego-inflating titles have been bestowed upon me as a result of my interaction with people, but I will never wear the feather in my "son-in-law cap".  And when I see that she has no real parental connection with any of her other family members, the reality sets in and my awesome responsibility becomes reiterated. 

My only - and I mean ONLY obligation is to God! My love for my wife is my worship and service to Him.  It encompasses all of what He has created me to be, all of what He has called me to do, and all of what He has equipped me with in order to be the man He has needs me to be. 

I will never be a SON-IN-LAW; but I will always be a SON-IN-GRACE.  Amazing Grace!  The kind of Grace that empowers me with all it takes to be all I am meant to be... And without the pressure of having to be a son-in-law; I have no excuse. I have to be the best Son-in-Grace I could possibly be.

Today I have a new goal to add to my list of life goals. Help me Jesus!

 Be inspired;
D