Listening
“This ability to listen is a gift and grows as we grow spiritually. Life takes on a new
meaning when we open ourselves to this gift.”
Basic Text p. 102
Have you ever watched two small children carry on a conversation? One will be
talking about purple dragons while the other carries on about the discomfort caused
by having sand in one’s shoes. We sometimes encounter the same communication
problems as we learn to listen to others. We may struggle through meetings, trying
desperately to hear the person sharing while our minds are busy planning what we
will say when it’s our turn to speak. In conversation, we may suddenly realize that
our answers have nothing to do with the questions we’re being asked. They are,
instead, speeches prepared while in the grip of our self-obsession.
Learning how to listen-really listen-is a difficult task, but one that’s not beyond our
reach. We might begin by acknowledging in our replies what our conversational
partner is saying. We might ask if there is anything we can do to help when someone
expresses a problem. With a little practice, we can find greater freedom from selfobsession and closer contact with the people in our lives.
Just for today: I will quiet my own thoughts and listen to what someone else is
saying.