DAILY BYTEThere are two specific challenges of listening that I would like to bring to you. The first is to intentionally practice the art and discipline of learning to listen to those around you.
Throughout my ministry, I have learnt that the act of listening, just listening and not offering any words of advice or guidance, in itself brings tremendous healing and hope. This is because the experience of feeling truly heard is an experience of being truly loved.
Acts 2 tells a story which in many ways is the inverse of the Tower of Babel. It is the story of Pentecost where the Holy Spirit anoints the disciples, and they began to speak in tongues. The result was that people of many different cultures and backgrounds heard and understood the Gospel being proclaimed in their own languages. It seems that a very important aspect of the Holy Spirit’s work is to teach us to learn to listen and understand one another, for it is through this listening and understanding that love can truly be expressed.
The prolific author and pastor Gordon MacDonald tells the story of having a friend over for supper one evening. This friend was a bus driver who had been mugged in a way that was both traumatic and humiliating. Gordon invited him to tell his story, which he did through gut wrenching sobs and tears.
Gordon listened to him carefully, and when he had finished, invited him to tell the story yet again. He did so again, and once more when he had finished, Gordon asked him to re-tell the story. By the end of the evening, the man had shared his traumatic experience three times, and it seemed that with each telling as if more and more of the event’s weight and pain dropped off his shoulders.
When the man left Gordon’s home at the end of the evening, he was free of his painful experience paralysing him in any way. He was free of hate and ready to begin the long process of forgiveness.
And Gordon had done absolutely nothing for him in the way of wise words ... all he had done was to listen carefully.
It was enough.
PRAY AS YOU GO
Gracious Father, we ask that you would bring people into our lives who would listen carefully to us, for we know that the experience of being truly heard is also one of being profoundly loved. Bring listeners into our lives, but equally we ask you would open our minds and hearts to those for whom we may provide listening ears to in turn. Amen.
FOCUS READING
Proverbs 1:5 NRSV
Let the wise also hear and gain in listening, and the discerning acquire skill.
