Blindfold Challenge!

So the other day we spent all day with Green's school doing a fun school retreat.  The theme of the retreat was "Follow Me" based on Matthew 16:24, Matthew 19:21, Matthew 4:19, Matthew 9:9, John 1:43-45 and John 13:12-14.  We started off with some worship and then the rest of the day was filled with fun team challenges based on this theme.  Kristy and I had the challenge called "The Mine Field".  Now with this challenge each team of students were split into groups of two.  One student was blindfolded (really well no cheating allowed!) and the other student acted as a guide through the mine field.  The only rule was the the student guiding the other student could not touch the blindfolded student.  If the blindfolded student touched a mine they not only did they lose a limb but they had to start over.  It was so interesting watching these kids try to figure out the best way to help their blindfolded partner get through the mine field.  I will say this... 99% of them were terrible at this.  It was hilarious at how many of the students would point their finger as if the blindfolded student could see and say, "No this way!" I saw all kinds of different strategies from the kids. Some cheated repeatedly, some stood at one end and gave instructions.  Out of almost 100 kids that went through the mine field their was one girl who did it perfectly! And no it wasn't Greens. What I saw her do was amazing.  She stood face to face with her blindfolded partner and stood just about one foot in front of her.  She guided her partner so well. She would say things like... "Just take one small step." "Listen to the sound of my voice." "Take one giant step to the right."  It was awesome to see it... she was so encouraging to her partner.

Here is what God said to me through her example...

Life is like a mine field.  If we get off track we can get hurt and hurt others as well.  If we don't follow His voice we can get in trouble.  But even more than that what stuck out to me was that this student faced her partner and walked backward with her partner through the mine field.  She stayed right in her partners face and gently spoke instructions to her partner to keep her safe.  Watching her made me understand the truth that the closer we are to God the easier it is to hear Him.  1 Kings 19:11-13a tells a story of God speaking to His servant and prophet Elijah.

1 Kings 19:11-13a says, "And he said, "Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord." And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake.  And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.  And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.  And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.  And behold, there came a voice to him..."

God speaks directly to us... face to face even.  But He isn't going to shout.  He is going to speak to us in a still small voice.  The key is the closer we are to Him the easier we will be able to hear that still small voice. He is constantly speaking to us... we just don't listen or we are to far away to be able to hear Him.  There is nothing more special than being close to the Lord and hearing His voice.  My prayer is that we seek that more than anything in this world.