Can You Hear Me?

Kay* slowed drastically as we walked the hallways of her Japanese neighborhood temple. She pointed at the bowls of countless coins sitting next to expensive wines, loaves of bread and pretty trinkets. She chuckled humorously as she said in broken English, “Gifts for Buddha. Some days he likes wine, other days he wants money. Don’t know if it works. We don’t know what makes him listen. We just hope we’re lucky enough that he does.”

I focused in on her face as she sighed and muttered, “Buddha doesn’t care for anything but himself, yes?” There was a calm acceptance to the silence and aloofness of her god, as if she believed there wasn’t any other way to interact with the unseen deity to whom she’d devoted her life.

Later that day, I caught myself praying quietly for my new friend as I helped clean up after a meal. Kay stopped in the doorway when she realized I wasn’t just talking to myself. “You think your God hears you? Oh, if only Buddha was like your Jesus.”

Kay made it obvious she wasn’t ready for more conversation, but what a powerful contrast to meditate on. Jesus Christ hears us every time we pray, whether we’ve given him everything or haven’t given him the time of day. His character and love remain the same, and he is willing to draw intimately close to us the instant we give him the chance.

How breathtaking is it that we never have to wonder if Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, hears us or cares?