Christian Living

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3-29-12

Monday's media carried the story of Jesse Gates. Jesse went to Church and rather than taking a Bible he marched off to the Free Will Baptist toting a shotgun. Once inside the church he pointed the gun at the pastor. To the dismay of some he was overpowered by members, and arrested. No one was hurt. As Mr. Gates was led away in handcuffs, he muttered that he was "only trying to get someone to listen to him."

Thankfully it was Free Will Baptist else some would have sat idly by thinking, "Oh well, it had to happen."

Jesse said, "I was just trying to get someone to listen." People who will listen are rare and people who know how to listen even more so. Effective listening is a skill so rare that people have made fortunes peddling such skill to the wealthy. Others have helped millions by knowing how keep quiet and listen.

Human beings are born with a desire to be heard, to be attentively listened to. When our children were young they had the habit of touching Joyce's face or mine and turning our head so they could watch our face as they jabbered out their need. Adults usually attempt to turn our heads toward them through more subtle approaches. Psalms 55:17 "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice." God is in the listening business.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2012 Use with credit

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