A static-free life

By CHERYL CRUCE

Once upon a time, I was the proud owner of a transistor radio. It was red in color, had AM/FM capability, and was powered by a 9-volt battery. Nonetheless, the capability of the FM came with its own brand of static. I recall setting the radio in the window of my room on clear nights, adjusting the dial slowly to tune in a station. On a really perfect night, my transistor would pick up Gulf 104 out of Tallahassee. If the reception lasted long enough, I would take out my reel-to-reel recorder, capturing the music for later use. I remember my excitement when I managed to tape John Lennon’s “Imagine.”
The song remains a favored melody even though I could not imagine the future of the little dial with magical numbers. Today, with satellites, earbuds, and the onslaught of cell phones, transistor radios have become obsolete. My grandchildren believe my generation was deprived. However, in the 1970s, my little red companion was pretty groovy. It is what my ears and mind were accustomed to. It was all I knew; I found it satisfying.
Life changes, and the simplicity of time past cannot be regained. Forty-five years after graduation, a high school friend and I met at a local refuge to hike and enjoy the wildlife. The preserve is home to many species of birds, including the great bald eagle. I found myself amazed at how attuned she was to the sights and sounds of the trail. There was an innocence in how she introduced me to her personal sanctuary. She found solace among creation.
As the day wore on, we made our way to my truck for the drive home. We conversed about life with the windows rolled down and the “satellite” radio playing. Then in mid-conversation, she said to listen. I heard nothing. She heard an eagle call to its mate. Turning around, we began looking for the source of what she was hearing. Eventually, we saw him perched high in an old pine tree, safe in his refuge.
My friend taught me a lot during our time together. Just as I was passing by the eagle, unable to hear its cry, I have often passed by my Lord, not hearing His voice. Yet, His voice calls after me, encouraging me to walk in His ways. I am the one who turns left and right, not following after Him (Isaiah 30:21). Conversely, when my heart is tuned to His, I discover His presence (Isaiah 26:3). The Lord is near me (Isaiah 55:6). It is in Him that I find my refuge.
The soul of man requires the refuge of the Lord that the Psalmist writes about. The clatter of this world often causes His voice to be brushed aside, unheard by man. Regardless, God remains our strong tower, our ever-present help in times of trouble when we seek him. We are the ones who need to turn around and pursue Him.
Our lives are much like my transistor radio; we are not static-free. Neither is faith static-free. We must fine-tune it with God’s Word. Sometimes we need to adjust the dial, or we will find ourselves driving past the joys of our Lord. Perhaps it is time we clear the world’s static and tune in to our Lord. God anxiously awaits our return to the stronghold to restore our hope in Him (Zechariah 9:12).
“But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all His deeds.” Psalm 73:28

Cheryl Mixon-Cruce is Pastor of Ochlockonee Bay United Methodist Church and Sopchoppy United Methodist Church.