Listen

It’s happened to all of us. We are at a social gathering and someone is totally dominating the conversation. It doesn’t matter what the topic, they have a story that trumps all others. And your attempt to enter the conversation is cut short with another “better than yours” story. It almost seems that if you want to get a word in, you have to interrupt this “Me Monster” in between syllables. And when you do talk, they are anxiously waiting for your lips to slow down ever so slightly so that they can start in on another run-on sentence “Me” parade.” Eventually, you just give up and walk away.

The word “listen” is often overlooked in our world today. It is a word that I am sure you have heard from your parents and teachers alike. It is a call to stop what you are doing and focus your attention on some necessary information. The other day I stood between the TV and my daughter and said, “Listen, you need to look both ways before you cross the street, yesterday I noticed that you didn’t.” “But daddy…” was the defensive response. I heard my own parents coming through in my voice as I attempted to impart some life wisdom to my five year old child. Listening is perhaps one of the most undervalued abilities today. We call people to listen all the time, the problem is - we just aren’t good at it ourselves.

I have heard the book of Proverbs humorously described as “A long road trip with your mother.” Although I wouldn’t dare associate myself with that description, there is some truth to it. The book of proverbs is a call to listen to wisdom. 11 times in fact in the first few chapters it calls us to listen or pay attention to wisdom and understanding - Listen to your fathers and mothers instruction, listen for the voice of wisdom that calls aloud in the streets. Who hasn’t heard their mother say “Listen” followed by some seasoned advice or instruction? A call to be wise is a call to listen.

In a conversation the other day, I found myself losing the argument. Despite the mounting evidence piled against me, I still held on to my view. Rather than listening to the voice of wisdom, I reacted with childlike stubbornness. “I took my ball and went home.” Wisdom was there, but I didn’t listen.

The other day on my church visitation tour I noticed gentlemen come in late to the service. He took a seat in the chair in front of me while the rest of us stood to worship in song. With hands that looked stained and battered from the week of work he closed his eyes and turned these hands palms upward to heaven. It was obvious that after a long and tiring week, he was there to listen.

When we really break it done, the ability to listen is a posture of our heart. In fact, that is why we go to school. We are placing ourselves in a position of learning, not assuming that we know the answers but trusting that someone else does and letting them guide us in the things we need to know. A teacher of mine pondered this the other day when talking about his students. He said, the most difficult students are those that hold tightly to what they think is right, and come to school seeking more evidence to support what they already believe. It made me ask myself, “Do I really think I know everything?”

Did you here that? Listen…