Just listen…

Two simple words that, as adults, we don’t often say aloud to each other but every day each of us wants that.  To be heard and listened to.

We desperately want someone to take the time to hear us.  Really hear us.  But too often, we are too caught up in talking about ourselves to listen to anyone else’s heart.  We are in too much of a hurry to slow down and really listen.  There is too much to do and too little time.  If the conversation isn’t about us or things that are important to us, it’s easy to turn off or tune out.

We’ve all experienced being on either end of that scenario.  So we all just go through life figuring that’s just the way it is.  No one really wants to listen to who we are, or what we dream, our hopes, our fears.  And we settle for small talk that is quick and unimportant but puts a loose bandaid on the ache of our hearts that so want to be heard.

So often God uses the most unconventional situations to teach me things like this.  In the past couple of days, He used two strangers to do just that…

I took Lilly to PetSmart a couple of days ago.  As I was leaving the store, an old gentleman came running out after me, saying, “I want to see that little thing!”  I assumed (hopefully, correctly!) that he meant my dog. 🙂  So I stopped and we talked for a bit about his new puppy and mine.  But it became evident very quickly, that he didn’t really want to talk about the dogs.  He just wanted to be heard.  He told me all about his world right there in the parking lot.  Lilly and I were shivering in the cold, but my heart was warmed by this man who just needed an ear for a few minutes.

Yesterday, I went to the eye doctor.  I came into the office and there was a man standing at the counter where I needed to check in.  I walked up to write down my name and appointment time.  He began a conversation by telling me about the strange symptoms he was having with his eye.  I was a captive audience as we waited for the doctor.  All he wanted was a sympathetic listener, and the conversation soon turned into the tale of his entire life story.  Every relationship, every lesson learned along the way.  Towards the end he showed me pictures of his  children, all who sing professionally.  And then he did the strangest thing.  He plugged his earphones into his phone which held a recording of one of his daughters singing.  “Just listen,” this stranger said, as handed me his earphones. “Just listen.”

Hesitantly, I put them to my ears and heard the beautiful voice of his daughter singing a song from Phantom of the Opera.  His smile grew wider while he watched my reaction to the sound.  The doctor soon called me back for my appointment.  Our conversation was over.  But as I left the office, the man smiled at me and thanked me for listening.

I will most likely never see either one of these men again.  I hope that they felt heard and cared for in those minutes I was with them.  But I’m thankful for what they reminded me of once again.  The profound power of listening.  The small sacrifice of our own time and our own voice has the potential to touch another soul. With those we know and love and with the strangers who may “randomly” come across our paths.

Jesus, remind me to “just listen”. To You, and to those you give me the privilege of colliding with today…

1 Peter 4:9 – Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

James 1:19 – Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak…