A Review of Hear His Call
Hear His Call explores worshipping the Creator on a level that may be unfamiliar to many. It also aims to draw the reader into closer intimacy with God by exploring the beauty of nature. Citing precedents in the lives of David, Elijah, John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, the author shows his readers how to deepen their relationship with God by spending time with Him ‘amongst creation’. Halfway through the book, I longed to escape the daily grind into a wild, yet secluded place for a fresh encounter with God!
According to Plunkett, our 24/7 culture has pulled us away from the quietness and rest that we should experience in our relationships with God; and taking time out of our busy schedules to visit nature - as created by God - can restore some much needed equilibrium. He explains that we often equate the wild with barrenness, rather than a place to gather strength to face life’s challenges. Like the Israelites in the desert, we could learn, not only to lean upon God for survival, but also to be so transformed we end up doing exploits for God.
He points out how easy it is to blithely sing hymns and choruses that refer to mountains, hills, and other elements of creation, without understanding the reality that may have led the songwriters to pen such songs. As a worship leader, this really resonated with me. Happily, before I finished the book, I visited a mountainous city, and was immediately caught up in awe of God in a way I would likely have overlooked but for Hear His Call. It was a glorious experience.
I felt the narrative could have been more concise in places, and the imagery was sometimes too expansive for me, but Plunkett’s love for God shines through each chapter, as he takes his reader on a descriptive journey through wild terrains, hills and valleys, flowing springs and brooks; often in stark contrast to today’s hectic society. Hear His Call confronts you with the need to slow down, listen for and enjoy God‘s presence in the middle of His majestic, albeit sometimes perilous, handiwork.
The book’s underlying theme is the need to commune with God, and the author suggests several ways to do this; from turning a mundane walk in the park into a time of meditation and exploration, to taking a spiritual expedition among the wilds. He relates his own vivid, passionate and exciting experiences, which would stir up the desire for the extraordinary that he feels society has tamed within us.
I’m not sure how often I’d be prepared to foray into the mountains for an overnight stay, but reading this book has certainly opened my eyes to aspects of God’s character aptly described by nature, and I would heartily join the author in recommending the experience to anyone looking to enhance their life in Christ by the wild and wonderful outdoors.
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