Open Ears (Video)

Has someone ever said to you: “You’re just not listening to me!”  What was their tone of voice?  What moved them to say that?  How did you respond?

To be heard and understood is one of the greatest gifts we can receive; and one of the greatest gifts we can give.  It is how we empathise and care for one another. The power of listening helps us know that we are not alone. It brings people closer together. It brings restoration to broken hearts and hurting souls.

The best book I’ve ever read on listening is by Adam S. McHugh: The Listening Life – Embracing Attentiveness in a World of Distraction, (IVP: 2015).  Like a treasure chest, this book is full of gems for everyone who seeks to become a better listener and carer to others.  Here are a few of them:

‘…how would our relationships change, and how would we change, if we approached every situation with the intention of listening first?  What if we approached our relationship with God as listeners? What if we view our relationship with nature as one of listening? What if we approached our relationships using our ears rather than our mouths?’ (p.10)

‘Hearing is an act of the senses, but listening is an act of the will. In listening you centre not only your ears but also your mind, heart and posture on someone or something other than yourself.’ (p.16)

‘The true listeners are those who stay, who crowd around Jesus and ask the interpretation of the parable. This is the kind of listeners God desires: those who pursue and seek and relentlessly question. They sit with Jesus’ words like an old friend that you know yet don’t really know, chewing and digesting, continuing to seek greater clarity and depth of understanding.’ (p.17)

‘The sort of people we become is, in large part, determined by the voices that we choose to listen to. Truly, we do not have a choice of listening versus not listening. We all obey certain voices, and thus the question is not “Will I listen?” but “Which voices will I listen to?” (p.21)

Jesus says: “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” (John 10:14 NIV)  And: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”  (John 10:27 NIV)

Over the last two Sundays, our themes have been Open Door and Open Eyes.  This Sunday we will consider: Open Ears.  It’s a privilege to come together to listen to the words of Jesus, to discuss what that means for us, and to help each other to live them out!

Pr Rolly Stahl