L- Listen

Listening is an action word that takes being still. Sounds like an oximoron, doesn't it? We have to be still to actively listen.  It's being quiet, stop talking, stop thinking about what you're going to say next, stop texting or reading a text or looking at your phone while someone is talking. How can we truly be listening if we don't stop all the noise in our head?  How can we really know what they're going through if we aren't taking the time to stop and hear what that person is saying? How can we truly show empathy or sympathy if we are not paying attention?

Listening is like a muscle. It takes effort and it takes working on it to strengthen it. It's not an easy thing to do to just listen to someone, especially if that person is boring, or talks so much we can't get a word in. Not listening can be downright rude. Have you ever been on the phone and doing other things and not really listening to the person?  I had a friend when I was a kid that loved to talk, like loved her own stories. This was back in the day when the phone was hooked to the wall, I wanted to grab something but the phone cord was just not long enough, so I put the phone down went to grab what I needed, realized she was still talking, grabbed a glass of water and walked back to the phone. She never knew I was gone. There are people like that but it was still rude of me to do that - funny but rude. 

Can you imagine if God treated us that way when we pray? It's not like He wouldn't have a good reason. He is listening to millions of prayers all the time and all at once! And yet, He tells us, "Be still and know that I am God." Be still. Calm down, take a breather, just listen. The Lord does for us what He wants us to do for Him and for others. He says, "Then you will call upon me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you." Jer. 29:12  

We have so many distractions in our culture these days, we are inundated with information, constantly interrupted. We carry a phone all the time not to mention a handheld computer at our literal fingertips. We can be in contacted all day long with a phone call, a text message an email; it's amazing what technology has done to us. I have to say I kinda miss the days when I left my house and checked my answer machine when I returned. Looking back on that I think we did listen a little better than we do today. Technology is great but it definitely makes us a distracted people. It takes more effort to be a good listener. It really boils down to treating others the way we want to be treated. Afterall, we just want to be heard. 

How can we do some spiritual exercise and strengthen those listening muscles? Stop what you're doing and actually pay attention and truly listen. Do your best to refrain from interrupting, and if you catch yourself thinking about what you're going to say next, stop and keep listening until they finish talking. Sometimes just saying, "I am so sorry that happened to you," is more than enough. 

The Lesson:  Walking away from your friend while they're talking is rude! 

Pouring hope, 
Nen♥


*Footnote: ANY of my friends reading this - it wasn't you! That friend doesn't talk to me anymore, I wasn't a good listener! ☺