Listen

You’ve probably heard the statement, ‘we have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.’ But, how often do we really listen? When we are listened to, truly listened to, it comforts, bonds and can even heal. We know the power of listening and yet, we still move through conversations without truly being present to the people in our lives. When was the last time you were having a conversation with someone and didn’t have a list of phrases, advice, stories and other thoughts floating through your mind ready to jump in as soon as there is a pause in the conversation? Listening requires us to follow every word and gesture with a genuine desire to understand. 

As we strive to listen to what the Spirit is saying, the same principle applies. Prayer is communication with God. We place an emphasis on the petition part of prayer (asking God for things and direction). But, prayer is a conversation that requires us to take the gesture of the listener as often as we take the gesture of the speaker. 

The more we genuinely listen to others and to God, the easier it is to listen to ourselves, and the greater our capacity for wisdom, virtue and love.