photo: Jovanche Vitanovski
“Are you listening?”
Once again, my mind wanders.
I realize I’m not present in the conversation.
It happens quickly, suddenly I’m gone.
Maybe the conversation bypasses me.
Maybe I lose interest.
Maybe I’m bored.
This isn’t good.
When I am relating to a person,
Someone made in GOD’s image,
I need to discipline my mind.
When I am relating to a person, someone made in GOD's image, I need to discipline my mind. Share on X
I need to actively listen.
Not with glazed eyes, or with my mind on other topics…
Or glancing furtively at the phone…willing it to ring or text me.
But with my mind on what they have to say.
With active questions or prayer for wisdom in my response.
Not with the goal of fixing them, but helping them to lean on Jesus
For what they need.
...Not with the goal of fixing them, but helping them to lean on Jesus for what they need. Share on XTherefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross…
Hebrews 12:1-2a
I needed this reminder, Martha. I’m guilty of the ‘hoping for the phone to ring’ distraction–especially if someone needs my presence and I don’t particularly want to be present for them.
i totally understand anita. i know that feeling. i also know the feeling of wishing i could be heard and having the person i’m talking too being so distracted by their phone that they can’t stay in the conversation. it can be difficult on either side. the latter can be very painful and lonely.
may GOD grant us the grace to be able to stay present in difficult conversations:)
“When I am relating to a person, Someone made in GOD’s image, I need to discipline my mind. . . . But with my mind on what they have to say. With active questions or prayer for wisdom in my response. Not with the goal of fixing them, but helping them to lean on Jesus.”
Amen. May it be so, Lord.
Thank you, dear Martha. I needed this to prompt me to pray for this.
i cannot tell you how much this does not come naturally kay:) i have heard this over and over from our pastors and elders since we moved here. at first it was jarring…as you can just imagine:) it is now just beginning to make sense. i wish i knew this about 40 years ago. life for me and our churches would have been much easier!
I need to practice this too. I’m over in the 60 spot this week.
glad you stopped by tara:) i’ll check you out in a couple of minutes. i’m trying to figure out my bloom app. ack!
I’m not sure if it’s my chronological age, or the age in which we live (one of extreme distraction), but I relate very well to what you’ve said. Listening requires discipline and practice. Thanks for sharing today. Enjoy your weekend!
thanks for stopping by joyce:) yes, i think it is a combo of both for me too. sadly, i’ve fallen into some bad habits myself. it helps that i have experienced life without quite so many distractions however and know a better way. blessings to you too. i think we’ll be inside looking at snow and ice. it’s cozy here and we finished buying our supplies so if we can inch by without losing electricity, we’ll be good:) we aren’t supposed to get blizzard conditions like those further north of us.