The Gift of Listening!

Listening is truly a great gift from God because it is an acquired discipline. To hear is one thing, but listening is another. People have told me when we hear, we let it go in one ear and out the other, but when we listen, we truly take those words to heart. Here is the complete story that I used for my homily this past weekend: "Two psychiatrists meet for a drink after a very long, hot day. One is utterly wilted and exhausted: his hair tousled, his face drawn, his clothing rumpled. His colleague, however, is composed, smartly dressed and completely at ease. 'For heavens' sake, Douglas,' the first psychiatrist says incredulously, 'how do you do it? I'm completely done in and you look as fresh as a spring morning. How can you look so great and be so composed after listening all day to peoples' problems, fears, angers, unhappiness and neuroses?' The second doctor smugly sips his highball and then responds, 'So who listens?'" (Cormier, Connections, 9/9/12). That is the key to that story, who is doing the listening, the psychiatrist or his patients? The pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer offers this, "The first service one owes to others [as Christians] consists in listening to them. Just as the love of God begins with listening to his Word, so the beginning of love is learning to listen to [one another]. It is God's love for us that he not only gives his Word but also lends his ear ... Christians so often think they must always contribute something when they are in the company of others ... They forget that listening can be a greater service than speaking." (Connections, 9/9/12). Listening is a great gift and it is a gift that we pray for each day. We pray that we will listen to one another and always listen to the voice of God. Have a blessed day!!!