The Art Of Listening

How I wish a piece of glass would be upon your brow.
How I wish I could look inside and see your thoughts somehow.

How I wish I could see your heart and know what lies in there.
How I wish its mysteries were exposed and just laid bare.

All the private thoughts and dreams are tucked away inside.
Packaged very neatly…how easy it is to hide.

But unless you open up the door and allow me to peer through.
I will never, ever truly know that hidden part of you.

We all have our secret places, where no one ever goes.
We tend to lock them tightly so no one ever knows.

But is it fair to hide in there…to pull the shade right down?
Is it right, when out of sight, to never make a sound?

The only way to be really known is to open the window wide.
Let in all the good clean air…breathe deeply from inside.

Let others know the importance of what you want to do.
No one can guess, what you’d like to do best…that’s only known to you.

You can never get upset with those who can’t see in your mind.
You cannot fret when others get, the things you leave behind.

Love will open up the door…open the windows wide.
Love will discern, and help us learn…there is no need to hide.

Your thoughts and your dreams are important to me…I always tell you so.
We journey on…new day…new dawn…the places we will go.

So starting today…new strategy…new plan…no status quo.
Yours is the mind, and yours is the heart, that I always want to know.

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Sometimes it is very easy to miss what another person is trying to say.
They think they have made themselves clear.
But because of personalities, one can overshadow the other…without meaning to.

It takes time to listen.
It takes skill to REALLY listen.
To hear what is being said…and what is not being said.
To see the body language of the other person and to read between the lines.

Sometimes, we don’t do that well.
Sometimes, I don’t do that well.

Jesus was very good at opening up spaces to listen.
When we follow His example of listening silence, we learn so much.
We tend to fill the air with the sound of our own voice.
If we just waited…even a few minutes…the other person may share a bit more.

I learned this recently with my youngest daughter.
She is so precious and sweet…so talented and responsible.
I failed to hear her heart concerning something that was important to her.

It has been mended…her heart has been heard.
I am realizing that I need to adjust my approach at times.
Opening up spaces…listening in the silence.

I may write about listening prayer.
I may teach about listening prayer in Bible study.
I do not have it nailed down…not by a long shot!

No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore, consider carefully how you listen. (Luke 8:16-18)

Consider carefully how you listen!
Jesus knew how hard it would be for us to listen to each other.
Even when our heart loves…it is not perfect love…and we fall short…often!

What if God was the kind of listener we tend to be?
What if God did not listen well?
What if He didn’t open up spaces…and wait for us to say what we want to say to Him?

We do not have a piece of glass across our foreheads revealing thoughts and emotions.
God doesn’t need a piece of glass.
He knows us.
Even the very hairs of your head are numbered. (Matthew 10:30)

I am so thankful that God listens better than I do.
I have so much I need to learn from Him.

How gracious He will be when you cry for help!
As soon as He hears, He will answer you. (Isaiah 30:19)

Amen!