A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord ; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Isaiah 40:3 NIV

I grew up in a very particular part of the North East of England. A pair of adjoined villages, shared an elementary school. We lived in an isolated valley, scooped out of the coastline between the moorland and the craggy cliffs of heavy clay and grey shale. The cold and unpredictable North Sea would regularly and disappointingly cast thick fog or a blast bitter sea wind onto the shore. We were a community; making our livings, growing up,  exploring life. This in an age before travel, internet and a bigger vision were a reality.

I always smile when hearing my friends from the States refer to a ‘British accent’, because my village had its own- and believe me- it isn’t like anything you’ve heard on Mary Poppins or Paddington.

Given that the people who were there were either ‘friend’ or ‘enemy’, the social divides became blurred and I do wonder if that positive attitude is one that has travelled well with me through the decades. I would sometimes find myself mystified by some of the more niche, colloquial uses of language by my friends and this one has especially stuck with me…. 

When playing with friends, and things got a little exuberant, a plaintive voice could be relied on to seek out an adult’s attention … “Aunty Kath! They’re calling me”

Calling me?

Not ‘being mean’, bullying or calling them by bad names- simply “calling me”.

We’ll gloss over the fact that everyone’s mom was called Kath, and yes- we can identify the markers that The Village was indeed raising the generation of children…

“Calling me” was a non-specific complaint, hinting at the need for intervention and order. It signalled the pivot point in the social dynamic of the children’s game. Another voice, with real authority was about to be heard.

Over the years, faith having been formed in our local village chapel, this phrase had a larger meaning; cue Sunday School and the interaction between Old Eli and the boy Samuel. 1 Samuel 3:8

A third time the LORD called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy.

‘Calling me’ in this case was about gaining attention for a summons. A call to take note. A call to wake up.

I love the parallels with the inclusion of Samuel’s very own “aunty Kath” in drawing in Eli to act as interpreter of the situation, the one who would enable the young boy be able to participate in the drama. Eli would restore peace for the one who was the subject of the calling… This calling, even though it is from God, is most likely to be irritating and intrusive to the ‘games we are playing’.

It will be a calling that demands that we pay attention.

Calling demands action. It demands attention. 

Calling demands that we notice

For the child who was upset that the games weren’t going her way, who struggled to cope, being noticed was important. She reported the calling. For Samuel, Eli the wise mentor would start him an a path of listening to God speak and direct his Life. In Isaiah 40:3, the voice calling is one that has no Eli and no Auntie Kath.

 A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord ; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”

The ‘one calling’ here is the one doing the Lord’s bidding. The one who is obeying the command and urging of God. The calling here is done by one to whom the Lord has given both a task and a voice. In this case, the voice will be one calling out to prepare people who are unacquainted with the real presence and power of God. 

Calling to a people whose hearts are the wilderness places. 

Calling to a generation which does not know the tender whisper of God’s voice or the comfort of one who will intercede for them when the calling is uncomfortable ar disconcerting.

How do you respond to ‘one calling’? 

Are you the fixer, the mentor or one who will pick up either pen or mic and make every word count for the Lord…