In the post Following His Guidance, I wrote about how frustrating and inconvenient it must have been for Mary and Joseph to travel so far to Bethlehem. It was a physically demanding and inconvenient trip of approximately 100 miles to Bethlehem so they could register for the census. Here’s an article about the long trip: Hiking the Nativity Trail from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

Think of how frustrating it must have been to travel that distance and once you finally get there, you find out that there is no vacancy at the one and only motel. Mary then has to give birth to Jesus in a stable. Life can be frustrating and inconvenient.

There are also distractions as we go about our daily work. At these times, one idea is to listen to God as we go about our daily work. Tune in to others and see God at work through them. During breaks, pay attention by reading, listening to music, and viewing art with a positive purpose of focusing on the things of God.

Here is one song that relates to this idea: Stop the World – Matthew West.

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. – James 1:19