Today is the commemoration of Benedict of Nursia (480-547).  He was a monk who lived in central Italy. People recognized a special holiness in him. He established a number monasteries including the great Monte Cassino. He wrote a rule for his monasteries that is still used by Benedictine and Cistercian monks.

The first word of the Rule of Benedict is “listen.” Goodness, how important listening is. All pastors take a program called Clinical Pastoral Education where we learn about pastoral care usually for hospitalized people. I think the most important lesson I learned from the program was to listen to people, to really listen to them, to make sure I have heard what a person is saying.

Once I went to someone for help and was utterly frustrated because the person wouldn’t listen. I had only gotten a few words out before he was telling me what my problem was and what I should do. I felt worse after talking to him than before.

The Psychologist Carl Rogers wrote: “When a person realizes he has been deeply heard, his eyes moisten. I think in some real sense he is weeping for joy. It is as though he were saying, ‘Thank God, somebody heard me. Someone knows what it’s like to be me.’”

It’s good advice for Christians. The first thing to do to help another person is to listen to them, really listen to them. Let them know you care enough to shut-up and hear them. It’s amazing how much it helps.

Read Proverbs 18:13 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.

Wayne