"Listen, now to the Word of God..." says the preacher before reading the scripture lesson. There is a physical response, heads raise, we sit up, we stop (even if briefly) doodling on the bulletin or playing on the cellphone.
We are attentive.
Attention. That is the heart of all listening. One puts aside all distractions and focuses upon the person before or beside.
When someone comes into my office and sits down across from me. The person needs to talk with me...it may be major, it my be just seeking a moment of connection and conversation. I turn off my computer screen and move my chair away from the desk....I give them my attention. I've learned that human beings like that.
Years ago I heard this line in a montage of film clips celebrating women in movies: "She was my mother and I knew there would never be anyone who would listen to me like my mother." I am blessed to resonate with this line because I was blessed to have experienced this focused, attentive listening from my mum.
It's been my experience, that the ground for listening is cultivated by spending time and building trust. When I led youth group meetings and the often futile attempts at discussion, the real connections came after the meeting, after two hours of zany spent together, a teen waiting for his ride home would talk with me. My crew of self-advocates would form a line post-meeting to spend a moment or several moments talking with me. I respected them by listening.
With all the rush of media and distractions we've developed the attention span of a hungry dog in a meat market. Forget not knowing each other, we don't even seem to notice another person.
In so many ways we have forgotten that we belong to one another.
For the many who long to be noticed, seen, heard, invited, received and shown they indeed do matter....start with paying attention...then build to asking how they are...and listen to one's answer and respond.
In our divided and destructive world this action may make the most impact.
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