Sunday, September 29, 2024

September 29th - A listening experiment

The story...

I will to listen better today.  Yes, I plan on running an experiment today - I intend to fully listen to others to better understand them and to apply what I learn to me and my life.  I wonder if I can both make it through a whole day and if I can actually maintain an interest in others.  Of course that means I must put myself out there in the presence of other people and engage in conversation too.  I can do this experiment; yet, will I?  Do I need to remind myself?  I'm turning off the computer now so that the experiment might begin.

Later that morning I received some news that changed my experiment.   I expect that I was kind and listened well yet that wasn't my focus.  The trivial was forgotten in light of the new news that focused my attention.  I couldn't help but listen to the reality of life - my ears were wide open.

People living together within the only church in town will drift less frequently into an imaginary reality due to the light of God's Word shining on reality.  And, they'll tend to actually care for, and have a true interest in, other people.  Yes, this is a place where there're things that you'll want to listen to - the truth about Him, us, and the future.  Do you want to be with or without Him - "listen up."


Just for today...

"What I learn from negative comments can be useful in opening my mind to my own wrong thinking."  One Day at a Time (p. 273)

"It is the disease of not listening . . . that I am troubled with."  William Shakespeare

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