The Bigger The Better

by Michael Fortson, Minister

Canyon Creek Church of Christ, Temple, TX

Most of us have two of them. They come in various shapes and sizes. We use them in a multitude of ways. I could be talking about a number of body parts, but let’s cut to the chase. Ears. Did you know that your ears never stop growing? I began wondering who, in our world, might have the biggest ears. Although I discovered all sorts of world records, can you believe that there is not one listed for the largest ears? Perhaps I need to bring this oversight to the attention of the Guinness people. I did, however, find a man with the world record for longest ear hair! Radhakant Bajpai from India has ear hair measuring 5.19 in. long. My wife thinks I would have that record if she didn’t keep me trimmed up.

Obviously we use our ears for hearing (sometimes), but they are also used to hold up eye glasses, your blue tooth, and hang various jewelery on. They can even be used to wiggle at someone when you want their attention. But 27 year old Lasha Pataraia, of Tbilisi, Georgia (as in Russia) has come up with a new use for one’s ears. Towing helicoptors. Encouraged by his family, friends, and supporters, and with one end of the rope attached to his ear and the other to the front wheel of the helicopter, on October 29, he was able to pull a 17,015 lb. military helicopter a total distance of 84 feet 11 inches! You ought to see the video! In her best day, your grandma could not have stretched your ear that far, even as mad as she was!

Well, to the point of all this rambling. A great new year’s resolution would be to have big ears. You remember the story of Little Red Riding Hood. As she looks at her grandmother in the bed, she exclaimed, "What big ears you have!" To which the wolf replied, "The better to hear you with!" That’s the point. We need big ears to hear better, because for the most part we don’t hear well.

There is usually nothing defective with our ears, but there is something wrong with our listening. Wives often talk, but husbands seldom listen. Parents can document how many times they have had a particular conversation with the kids, but the kids usually don’t remember. How can you get people to really hear you? As a minister, I usualy resort to multi-media. That is, I speak the message, I illustrate it by power point, and finally, I provide fill-in-the-blank notes. If you hear it, see it, and write it, maybe, just maybe, you’ll get it. No guarantees.

I wonder how God feels when it comes to His message for us. Hebrews 1:1 - 2 tells us, "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son." God spoke. In fact, he spoke often and in various ways. He has even spoken by His Son, Jesus. The question is, are we listening?

Did you know that seven times in the book of Revelation (Rev. chapters 2 - 3) Jesus says, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says..." Listen. Listen to what God is saying. And what is he saying? He is saying that he loves us, that he wants what is good for us, that he sent his Son to die for us, that he wants us to be in heaven with Him. And he says, "Follow me." How much trouble and hurt could we avoid if we would just listen to God. Really listen.

So my new year’s resolution is to get bigger ears. I hope you’ll do it too.

Michael Fortson