The Comfort of Being Heard

As a Dad, sometimes I wonder if I am being heard.  You can talk to little girls, ask them to do some chore that should have already been done, you get an "okay" but there is no action.  "Did you hear what I said?" "What?" "I said...!"  Somewhere in this process, I evitably ask, "Are you listening to me?" 
There is great comfort in being heard, but there is great frustration when one feels ignored.  This weekend, I was privileged to hear several very successful men and women that have built huge businesses by developing relationships by listening to others.  Their success has come because they have learned the art of listening. There is no greater comfort in being heard and understood.  It seems that the Psalmist recognized this comfort when he wrote in Psalm 106:44

"But he took note of their distress when he heard their cry;"

(The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ps 106:44)

We are reminded here that God not only heard their cry, but He also took note of their distress. 

 

Several years ago in a movie called WHITE MEN CAN'T JUMP, the two main characters are discussing the music of Jimi Hendrix when one of them says, "Look man, You can listen to Jimi but you can't hear him. There's a difference man. Just because you're listening to him doesn't mean you're hearing him."  We listen but do we hear?  Many times in the relationships of our lives, we fail to fully hear exactly what is said.  We fail to catch the full meaning of the distress of the situation sometimes because we don't care enough to do so.  Thanks be to God that when He listens to our cry, He hears us! 

 

What would happen if we modeled that in our lives?  What would happen if we allowed ourselves to take the time to listen to those around us?  What would happen if we "took note" of the concerns of those to whom we are connected?  What would happen if we just listened? 

Opportunities

I read a story the other day about Reverend Edgar Tufts, the founder of Lees-McRae College and his unique desire to make the most of every opportunity.  His premise was that no where in the Bible did Jesus take a vacation.  I have thought about that lots and have even made decisions that have been in tune with that philosophy.  For example, I was asked to show up and say a prayer for a group of cyclists as they began a 62 mile ride through the scenic highways of our county.  I did not hesitate to think of this as an opportunity to somehow to share God's love with perhaps at least one person that needed some encouragement.  The whole time in planning and attending this event, I kept thinking of the words of Reverend Tufts and the story that was shared.  However, as I am sitting now on my deck, listening to the sounds of nature, watching the birds of all shapes and sizes, hearing the squirrels jump from limb to limb, I am reminded that Jesus did withdraw from time to time to recharge His spiritual batteries.  He went to the mountains and to the beach. There seems to be a balance there that we often forget.  Yes, we need to seize every opportunity to share the love of Christ in all we do but yet at the same time we need to seize those precious moments to refuel, gain more insight, and allow ourselves to become closer aligned with what God desires, all the time seizing the opportunities that have been placed before us.  In order to do this, we have to intentionally schedule those times to allow for renewal and refreshment so that when other opportunities arise, the overflow can say help us be ready and say yes and we are equipped to handle that which comes our way.  Yes, this needs to happen.  This has to happen.  I think I will go to my calendar now and intentionally schedule some time.