Games People Play – Pictionary - 23rd June 2008

Pictionary is one of those great games that went through a phase of being very popular back in the late 1990’s. I think it is a great game because it relies on non-verbal communication to transmit a message in as short a time as possible and relies on the more creative skills to achieve this. Often, the issue lies not with the transmitter of the message but the receiver of the message and their inability to think laterally about what is being communicated. Apparently, 92% of all communication is non-verbal and Pictionary is very much a case in point.

I often wonder how God would fair in games like these. I am sure His team would win and all have a great laugh at the same time. But there is a more serious side to this. One of the things that people often say is that they struggle to understand when God is speaking to them. Is this because God is a poor communicator or are we poor listeners? I suspect more the latter to be the case.

Taking this thought process a step further, I guess the real issue is that communication is a 2 way process – if we don’t communicate with God, how can we expect Him to communicate with us? And then there is the issue of how we communicate. If we work on the ‘premium rate phone line’ strategy, we seek to fit everything in as quickly as we can to minimise cost and then put the phone down - and don’t wait for a response. God’s opportunity to communicate is restricted at this point.

So, what’s my point? The point is this. In all the hustle and bustle of every day life, do we make room for a proper communication process? Luke 10:38-41 covers the story of Mary and Martha – Mary sitting quietly at Jesus’ feet, whilst Martha charges round doing things, and airs her frustrations at Jesus, who tells her to stop what she is doing and be like Mary, spending time with God.

Today, are you making the time God deserves?