Stay away from Logue’s Field.

If you lived on June Drive in Donelson Hills subdivision and played baseball in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s as I did, the best games were always in the backyard of Kent and Neal McNish up on Dearborn Drive.  Often, I would be the youngest kid up there, but still they usually let me play.  That was an honor.  And more a testament to the McNish boys’ kindness than my ability.  The games would take up most of the afternoon until called due to darkness…or until the McNish’s had to go inside.  Or, until my mother would call the young right fielder to come home for dinner.  (We ate dinner much too early.)  If you are the youngest kid on the field, this is really embarrassing.

Many times, Mother had to walk about halfway up Dearborn in order to get the message clearly delivered…that I was to come home.  NOW.  Sometimes I pretended not to hear her…just trying to stay in the game a little longer.  On other occasions, I would be so totally engrossed in the situation, that I really didn’t hear her calling.  After all, if the score is 9-7 with runners on second and third and two outs, a guy’s ears will not let words from his Mother get through all the important stuff filling his brain.

Occasionally, the Donelson Hills guys would take on the Cottage Lane boys.  That “away game” would take place on Logue’s Field…a sandlot sanctuary in the grass next to the Logue “Mansion” on Lebanon Road up at the intersection with Cottage Lane. (At least we thought it was a mansion back then.)   At eight and nine years old, I wasn’t allowed to make the long bike ride to Logue’s Field.  But, if offered the chance to join the team there, I could take a route that looked as though I was heading to McNish’s backyard…but instead, I could make a right on Guaranty…around the block to secretly go all the way to Logue’s.  I knew I wasn’t supposed to go there.  At Logue’s Field, there was no way I could hear a call to come home.  I was much too far away.

There seems to be a lot of talk these days back and forth between those who say they hear God speaking and others, many of whom claim to be Christian, but who think you must be mentally ill if you hear God’s voice.  It is sad that they do not hear Him.  Do we sometimes fail to hear from God and make out like it is His fault?  Isn’t it rather absurd to think that the God who created us for relationship and communion with Him would choose to distance Himself from us?

Our Pastor, Mike Glenn, has a saying about this:

Here are some things I know about God speaking.  First, if you believe the bible, it is full of instances where God speaks to His people…sometimes directly, sometimes through others, and now through His written word.  Second, God promises to speak to us through His Holy Spirit.  Over and over we are told to “Hear the word of the Lord.”

“For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:16 NLT

Third, What I personally have experienced is this: There are times in my life when I am so involved in things … either things that matter a lot or really don’t matter … that it’s like I’m off in McNish’s backyard.  Maybe I am so busy with stuff that I really don’t hear what God has to say to me.  Maybe I don’t want to hear…afraid that obedience to His voice might take me away from the game I’m in. There have also been times when I was off at Logue’s Field. I was where I knew I should not be. I was not close enough to hear the voice.

There are other times, when I am in complete obedience…as best I can be…that He is clearly communicating with me.  In times of worship, of prayer, of awareness of his presence…where I clearly know the speaking and affirmation of His Spirit.  I just know it.

Fourth,  I believe this…we know the difference. We know it if our lives and our prayer lives are in a position where His Spirit is communing with ours. And we know if we are somewhere that His voice cannot be heard.  Really…we just know, don’t we?

I don’t know where you might be. I certainly hope that you are not somewhere you know you should not be.  I hope you have not gone off to Logue’s Field, because you will not hear Him there.  And, if you are living life in McNish’s backyard, stay attentive.  Don’t be so involved in your game that you do not hear or recognize Him trying to get your attention.  Listen for His call.  Stay close enough that you know when He is speaking.

Prayer:  Father, help me to recognize those things in my life that might be causing separation from you; forgive me for allowing things to create a distance between us that might keep me from hearing your voice.

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