Listening? (re:listening 1)

Recently, I’ve been thinking a lot about listening.  I’ve been asking myself: ‘Do I listen?’ To God, to my friends, to my wife, to my kids, to people around me, to my own life . . . am I really listening?

As someone who spends a lot of time speaking, whether in front of people or in response to individual’s questions, I can easily slip into an attitude of blabbing about in life. Some of you who are reading this, God forbid, may even have experienced this with me. I’m really sorry about it, if that’s the case.

There is so much noise and activity in our society that I think we are all listening impaired. We undoubtedly have a lot of sound running into our ears, but do we truly listen?  Try this out. Stop for a moment and listen to the sounds around you. What do you hear?

Okay. Now think about the last time you listened – I mean really listened without pushing your agenda – to a friend. How long ago was that?

To be cliché, I’d have to say that listening is an art. It takes hard work, training, thought, creativity, and a little stillness, quiet and reflection.

Think about God as a listener for a minute. He hears us when we call to Him. “I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ears” (Psalm 18:6). “Does He who fashioned the ear not hear?” (Psalm 94:9).

He hears us. What a gift. Shouldn’t we be like Him in this? Shouldn’t we be open-eared to those around us? Shouldn’t we be listeners to others, at least for God’s sake, if not for our own?

So, I’ve been asking myself whether or not I am a listener. Do I know what it means to simply shut-up and listen to another?

How about you?

I’d like to hear from you about it, if you’re willing. It would be good for me. I’d love to listen (through print) to what you have to say.