Nudges

Elwyn Streulens

The first time I “heard” God speak to me, each word was like a pebble landing in a pond, sending out ripples.

When the eddies ended, the next word would drop. The message?

“I ……… overwhelm ……… you ……… with …….… my ………. love ……….”

A friend who’d been in Catholic Charismatic Renewal for a long time said, “Sometimes God has to do the extraordinary to catch our attention.”

A very precise instruction another day was, “Take Teresa Holy Communion.” Teresa was in aged care, totally blind, very deaf, immobile, and had been feeling abandoned by God. Staff told her, “Your god is not listening”. It was an honour and privilege to show her that they were wrong. That’s a nudge I’m very glad I acted on, and kept acting on.

Nudged to take the beautiful, pink, star-like cactus flowers I’d been picking, to Marjorie, I arrived to find her husband had died overnight. She thought I knew. I didn’t, but God knew and sent her beautiful, gentle assurance of his ongoing love and care.

Now, nudges are slight, and if I’m sensitive to them, they guide me.

Sometimes I’m nudged to buy something, finding out later it was the perfect gift for someone in need. Most recently, visiting a young man in hospital, wanting most earnestly for him to know God as his friend, my nudge was, ‘Go easy on him’. Thinking to share my experience of nerve damage with him, I was nudged to keep my mouth shut. ‘That won’t help,” said the inner voice.

When I follow the nudges, life goes well.

I’m trying to be more aware of them, and more responsive more often. I believe they help me know - and do, God’s will, and I’m grateful.

Nudges to moisturise my skin, check my cooking, turn off the hose, email so and so, visit that one, ring that one, send a particular e-card, write these words on a card, cook this for tea, etc, etc, assure me that God is interested in every aspect of my life, and in the well being of others in my world.

Praise Him!