Article February 7, 1970 Issue

True Listening and Its Rewards

JULIA IRENE FITZGERALD

There is a story that a country boy who was walking across a busy intersection of New York City heard the voice of a cricket above the noise of the city's traffic. Since the boy's ear had been trained to listen for sounds of the countryside, he was able to detect the cricket's voice in spite of the roaring noises of the great metropolis.

If all mankind were well-attuned to hearing God's voice despite evil's loud clamoring for recognition and power, the world would be richly blessed. In this day of advanced materialism what blessings would appear if all people concerned about world problems were spiritually prepared to listen for and to follow God's guidance!

The voice of Truth can be heard today as surely as it was heard by Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Elijah, David, and other patriarchs and prophets spoken of in the Old Testament. Our beloved Master and Way-shower, Christ Jesus, heard God. He was the most effective listener of all times. And Mrs. Eddy was a most dedicated spiritual listener, even as a child. She writes in the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health, "The Soul-inspired patriarchs heard the voice of Truth, and talked with God as consciously as man talks with man."^{Science and Health, p. 308;}