“Listening with an open heart is the ultimate spiritual act. It is the greatest gift you can give another person and ultimately to yourself. Closeness with others will rise and fall in direct proportion to our capacity to put our defensive aside and listen well.”       Harriet Lerner

In our world there are very few who are quick to listen.  We often interrupt with our own stories or thoughts, lose our focus on what is being said, or are quick to become angry and say things we will regret. How can we be more like Jesus and be better communicators?  James 1:19-20 has this to say. “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters:  You must be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.”

Does someone you know come to mind when you think of a person who exemplifies this verse? I think of my cousin-in-law.  We come from a very talkative family.  Everyone is blathering on and on and he just sits there, saying very little.  One time when my daughter was a little girl she asked him why he never said anything?  He answered her with these words.  “Someone has to listen.”  At the time, we all got a good laugh out of it but in retrospect, what he said was so true.

We should all strive to be like this.  If we are quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry, imagine what our relationships will be like!  Imagine what our families will be like! Imagine what meetings and social gatherings will be like?

One thing we know for sure is God listens to our every need and never interrupts, stays focused on us and our needs and is slow to anger.  This all happens because of His unconditional love for us. Maybe we as Christians can learn to listen like Jesus and be good examples for both the Christian community and the lost when we choose to live in this way.  But it is a choice.  Listen with and open mind and heart, choose carefully the things we say and do so very carefully so we can reflect God’s love.  Thanks be to God!

Patty