I used to think I was a good listener. Leading groups and meeting with folks one-on-one often provided me the opportunity to hear significant stories and I thought I had what it took to listen. But then, I met someone who listened. Really listened. It caught me off guard enough to ponder about what kind of listener I am. I wonder if you’ve thought about listening lately…?
We now live in a world where everyone who has something to say can have a platform of their own to say it via social media. And if you don’t like the thing one person says, you can veer off and deliver your own message. Or potentially worse, “comment” back and deliver a heartfelt disagreement, often triggering a back-and-forth that leaves the realm of “healthy conversation” and devolves into something ugly.
The art of listening is more crucial now than ever.
Author and podcaster Carmen LaBerge recently spoke to our Presbytery’s leaders and suggested that we have an opportunity to show this world something graceful and beautiful when we invite someone to “tell me more”. Think about it. If someone is hurting, you can invite them to reveal more about their burden. If someone is worked up and ready to rant, you can acknowledge their frustration and let them feel heard – even if their argument isn’t valid.
“Tell me more” isn’t a magical phrase. It won’t heal what is broken or silence ignorance. But it can demonstrate a counter-cultural movement to this world that listening isn’t dead and that the true people of God are not here to shove a message down their throat. Instead, It can help us invite others into our lives and help us earn the opportunity to speak truth and grace.
Not Just a Corner 