His Master's Voice

The RCA logo of “His Master’s Voice” has long been one of my favorite images. In 1899, the then named Gramaphone Company acquired the image, originally from a painting done by the English artist, Francis Barraud. 

According to publicity information, the dog, Nipper, once belonged to Barraud’s brother Mark. When Mark died, Francis inherited the dog; he also acquires a cylinder phonograph, with numerous recordings of Mark’s voice. Nipper, apparently, was quite interested in these recordings, responding to his master’s voice. Hence, the image of the adorable fox terrier cocking his ear to the phonograph’s speaker was captured on canvas and then later adapted in RCA logo form.

“Master.” It’s a hot button word. What do we think of when we hear it? Is it an oppressive association or a positive one? According to its definition, it means…

“somebody or something controlling or influencing events or other things.”

Yeah, that definition doesn’t seem to make us jump up and down with enthusiasm.

 Let’s face it, we still want to run the show- our way. We may say we follow a spiritual path of recovery in theory, but, with regard to our feelings, we want to be our own masters.

And that thinking usually gets us into trouble. Addictions, compulsions, vices and bad decisions are usually some products of that independent declaration.

We get confused and distracted. We start depending on and exalting our way of living. We get enticed by it. And yes, that enticement eventually produces destruction.

“But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

James 1:14-15

It may not seem obvious at first. In fact, we may even think our way is working. We have everything handled. We found our coping strategy, our identity, our solution and our answer in whatever we’ve chosen to focus on.

But God remembers “we are but dust” (Psalms 103:14). He knows that, left to ourselves, we will only head toward calamity.

Yes, deciding on and living out the commitment to trust and follow God is a challenge. There are so many distractions competing for our attention; they’re often alluring and have loud voices.

Nevertheless, God is our first love; He’s programmed every heart. So, let’s take our cue from Nipper; let’s respond.

Underneath every layer of every addiction, choice and folly, there still is His voice. It’s up to us to respond to it.

Copyright © 2018 by Sheryle Cruse