Listening

Acts 23:1-5

“1 While Paul was looking intently at the council he said, “Brothers,up to this day I have lived my life with a clear conscience before God.” 2 Then the high priest Ananias ordered those standing near him to strike him on the mouth.”

Paul appeared before the chief priest and the council thinking that he would be allowed to speak, since he was the person being accused of wrongdoing, but they did not want to hear Paul.  They had come to hear themselves speak.  They were there to justify their beliefs and their accusations.

One quality of a spiritual person is that they seek to listen.  Not just to hear sounds of words, but to listen to what the person is saying; to hear the meaning of what is said and the feeling with which it is said; and to seek to understand what is said.

Active listening requires that we remove all thoughts of self and truly hear the person that is speaking.  

Not listening is like a smack in the mouth to the person who is unheard.

Listening is an act of love.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)

Memorial United Methodist Church