Ezekiel and Me

"Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll, which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe. And he said to me, "Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel." So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat...then he said to me; "Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them. You are not being sent to a people of obscure speech and difficult language...whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. But the whole house of Israel is not willing to listen to you because they were not willing to listen to me, for the whole house of Israel is hardened and obstinate."
Ezekiel 2:9-3:7

I read this passage a few days ago and it continues to strike me as I think about it even now. It makes me think of missionaries, the people that we so often to send to far away lands to "people of obscure speech and difficult language," and how hard it is to be a missionary right here in the US, in a place that is full of a language and a people that we understand for the most part. Why is it still true today, as it was so many years ago, that people are more willing to listen when you are from a country and a life that is not like their own.

It makes me think of YouthWorks and the many teens, adults and communities that we work with. So often youth and adults who come to our sites from similar places as us have a hard time hearing. They have a hard time getting past the fact that we are similar to them. That we speak in the same tonal sounds as them. That our accent is similar to theirs. That we use the same lingo and jargon. And because of this they have a hard time hearing and believing the words we are speaking to them about the Lord...about cooking in the kitchen...about driving directions to ministry sites.

It also makes me think of myself. How often have I not listened to someone because they were not of "obscure and difficult speech," because they were younger than me or older than me or not as mature as me or whatever excuse I happen to come up with as a reason not to open my ears to hear from them? And how often do I do that to God? How often am I like an Israelite with a hardened and obstinate heart? How often have I thought that my limited view and knowledge of something was correct and unchangeable? And when I recognize myself doing that how do I turn around and soften my hardened heart?

This passage also gives me hope. Hope in the fact that I have a Father who gives me the wisdom and the words to say when I am the one who is sent to speak to people. Hope that I am not drifting alone out in a sea of uncertainty and doubt. Hope that He won't leave me nor forsake me. Hope that despite the wretched one that I am alone, God can use me to push people into his arms. God can use me to speak hope, love, truth, and challenge. God can place the words in my mouth to utter and to proclaim loudly to His people. Not because I am worthy or brilliant or have all the answers, but because He can take this piece of clay and turn it into a beautiful creation.

Oh spirit, rejoice that you are not alone!
Oh body, revel in the fact that you were created beautiful in His eyes and in His image!
Oh tongue, take heart that good can come forth from you!
And mind, be at peace knowing you don't have to know all the answers or see all the outcomes.