The Telegraph
A Spiritual Archives Story from All-Creatures.org

The Telegraph

Author Unknown Submitted by Debra Stitt - 29 Apr 1998

Back when the telegraph was the was the fastest method of long-distance communication, a young man applied for a job as a Morse Code operator. Answering an ad in the newspaper, he went to the office address that was listed. When he arrived, he entered a large, busy office filled with noise and clatter, including the sound of the telegraph in the background. A sign on the receptionist's counter instructed job applicants to fill out a form and wait until they were summoned to enter the inner office.

The young man filled out his form and sat down with the seven other applicants in the waiting area. After a few minutes, the young man stood up, crossed the room to the door of the inner office, and walked right in. Naturally the other applicants perked up, wondering what was going on. They muttered among themselves that they hadn't heard any summons yet. They assumed that the young man who went into the office made a mistake and would be disqualified.

Within a few minutes, however, the employer escorted the young man out of the office and said to the other applicants, "Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming, but the job has just been filled."

The other applicants began grumbling to each other, and one spoke up saying, "Wait a minute, I don't understand. He was the last to come in, and we never even got a chance to be interviewed. Yet he got the job. That's not fair!"

The employer said, "I'm sorry, but all the time you've been sitting here, the telegraph has been ticking out the following message in Morse Code: 'If you understand this message, then come right in. The job is yours.' None of you heard it or understood it. This young man did. The job is his."

We live in a world where not many folks hear what God has to say. Some people are making no attempt to listen, but many are just distracted by the noise and commotion of the world around us. There is so much going on in and around our lives that competes for our attention. But, if we are to truly hear God amidst all the clutter, we must refuse to be distracted and focus our attention on God and His Word.

"I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saints; but let them not turn back to folly." (Psalm 85:8)

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