My son was born 2 months ago.
It is amazing to watch him grow and discover new things.
Something the books told me was that simply by talking while he was in the womb he would recognize my voice. That he would know who his father is.
When he was born, however, the connection for him was not instant (he was more concerned with getting poop out of his body). He would be soothed by his father’s voice, yet the recognition of who I was, still, was not there. I’d imagine if he could talk he would say something like “Wow, this guy is like a big pillow, I think I will sleep on him; He makes me comfortable, I like it.” Or something like that.
About a month ago my son was crying and I went to his crib to answer him. As I put my hand on his belly, made an audible “shh” and said something like “It’s ok” he opened his eyes. There was no Hollywood instant stop to the crying, no big smile and it was over. Actually what happened was better than all of that. During his cries, he looked up at me, and with all the communication that comes in a look, looked at me and recognized me as his dad.
I have loved this kid since I first knew about him, I have loved him through my wife’s pregnancy, through her labor and his birth, and as soon as he appeared even more love came out. He has screamed for hours, pooped his diaper, and peed on me and laughed about it and I can’t help but love him. But for him, he had to recognize me as Dad, and though he is not capable of communicating love the way I am, the acknowledgment, from him, that I am his dad is enough for me.
Jesus told a similar story:
But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
John 10:2-4 (ESV)
The best characteristic of the sheep is not anything that they do but the fact that they know the Shepherds voice and they know that they belong to him.
At this point Jesus has not required anything grand. He, actually, requires them to do nothing out of their nature.
They just follow him.
They hear and recognize the voice and they know to follow. They are being called by name, and they turn to their Shepherd and follow him.
Simple.
We are all simple babies. We are selfish and stinky, we cannot fathom what we need, yet in that all, we know the voice of our Dad.
We are all sheep, lost without direction, yet inherent in us is the voice of our master and Shepherd.
What about you? Could it be this simple? How do you know you Father in Heaven? Is he one voice among many for “comfort” or is he the one whom you know? When he says “Come” do you follow?
