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Horton Hears A Who--What About You?
03-24-2008
by Johann Snyder
Horton Hears A Who is the latest attempt by Hollywood to adapt Dr. Seuss’ work to the big screen, and I’d have to say it’s the most successful attempt thus far. The movie accurately captures the spirit and tone of the book, and in doing so, raises some of the same points for consideration as well. Specifically, Horton Hears A Who asks you to consider who it is you’re listening to.
Our society is a cacophony of constant noise. For cell phones to iPods, from TVs to Gameboys; every where we go and every where we are we are surrounded by artificially generated noise. Add to that noise the many voices of people espousing their opinions about everything from the weather to politics, it’s a wonder we can even hear ourselves think. In this chaos of constant noise, the voice of the ultimate Who is being drowned out, and only those who listen carefully will hear it.
The Bible tells us in first Kings that the Lord was heard by Elijah in a gentle whisper. I believe that is still the way he speaks to people today. Sure, he could blare his voice from mega-speakers hung on the moon and drown out every noise on earth, but that wouldn’t be very personal, and it wouldn’t be very loving. A whisper is something tender, something gentle and kind, something intimate. That’s the type of relationship God wants to have with us. God doesn’t want to demand our attention; he wants to woo our attention. He doesn’t want to command our respect, he wants to earn it. You see God loves us so very dearly that he’s done everything possible, even dying on cross for our sins and rising from the dead to bring us eternal life, to make a way for us to have a loving relationship with him. That’s why he whispers, so that we’ll lean in closer in order to hear what he has to say. God is whispering to you, like a Horton hearing a Who, the question is are you willing to listen?
Of course the other problem with saying that God is whispering to us is that there are some who will flatly refuse to believe that such a thing is possible. These bossy kangaroos can’t hear the whisper of God for themselves because they’ve already convinced themselves that such a thing is impossible. If God really were speaking, he should speak up for all to hear, they say. Since he doesn’t, then he simply musn’t be there and those who claim to hear his gentle whisper are just deluding themselves. Certainly these bossy kangaroos have a good point, and they’re arguments are quite convincing. It’s so easy to dismiss that uneasy feeling that someone is trying to talk to you as a simple trick of the mind, a deluded moment of weakness as our hearts yearn for meaning and purpose. And yet…what if it were possible? What if that nagging feeling that someone’s trying to reach you, that someone’s trying to get you to listen isn’t just a feeling, but a fact? My encouragement to you is to not let the noise of bossy kangaroos or of this busy world keep you from listening for that still, small voice of a loving God. If you want to know if he’s speaking to you, take some to listen. I know it sounds crazy, but I’m telling you God loves you and wants to speak to you. There is a purpose and meaning for your life, just as you’ve felt in those quiet moments at night when all is still and the whisper is more easily heard. In fact, that whisper becomes a voice, loving and kind, that will speak to you loud and clear when you crack open a Bible and spend some time reading what it says. Don’t let the voice of others and their stubborn refusal to listen keep you from following the whisper of God.
People are searching, but for what, they know not Who. Horton heard a Who and made sure he listened so he knew exactly what to do. But what about you? Do you hear the whispers of the one who loves you? Do you hear the gentle buzz of his voice in your soul, the sound of love trying to woo? What are you to do? Well my friend, all I can say is you should listen, pay attention, and shut out all this world’s ado. For there is a loving God who loves you, and he wants to speak with you. I encourage you to hear his voice and talk with him too. I promise it’ll be an adventure even greater than Horton Hears A Who.
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