The art of listening

Imprinted in my mind is a statement I read years ago. It says something about listening if we want to be of help to others. It is called mind-healing listening; we don't merely listen to what is said; we listen to the person who is saying it. In other words, the messenger is more important than the message. We need to be genuinely sensitive to needs of others, because talking is often so personal that inattention is the same as disrespect or disregard for the talker.

People hear what we speak, that is if they are not deaf, but only a caring person listens. Hearing is done with the ear while listening is done with the mind and heart. We meet many people with emotional wounds, people who are crying out 'please listen to me.' But we live in a busy world, and we hear, but have no time to listen.

We talk our problems away when we know someone who cares is listening. Last weekend, God sent us someone who needed counselling, or should I say, needed a listening ear. She was able to pour out her heart and soul. She has left us for home in a foreign land, but we shall keep in contact with her by e-mail. Hopefully she has found some relief for her aching heart. The important thing as we told her is to have a relationship with Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord. He is the perfect Listener and Healer of all wounds.

Yesterday, I had a very interesting day chatting with a young person. I always feel the need to be involved with the young to keep relevant in this day and generation. Talking with older folks, we hear of aches and pains, illnesses, visits to the doctors, complaints about the young and of course, the usual subject - the good old days. But talking to the young brings one up to date with today's challenges, new opportunities to serve God. It keeps me relevant. So I had a good and interesting day talking with this young person. It did my soul good.

I give thanks to God for sending these people -the elderly, the middle age and the young into our lives. Not a day passes without people crossing our paths and they have blessed us.

I once read a story of a child who returned home with a crayon drawing he had done in school. He rushed into the kitchen where the mother was preparing dinner. "Mum, you'll never guess what.." he cried out.

"I don't know what" replied Mum, "but I'm listening."

"No, you are not Mum, you are not listening with your eyes."

Telephone conversations are good up to a point. E-mail is good up to a point. Nothing beats eye to eye contact and listening with heart and mind.