Listen

I found myself once in a diverse group of people. One of the people in this group was an older gentleman that was sharing some wisdom with us. This was an informal setting and the group was sharing openly, but I could tell by the things he was saying that he was laying down some sound wisdom and I sat quietly to listen. Unfortunately one of the other members of this group felt the need to interject a long and what seemed to be a pointless story. So much so that the older man could no longer talk. Soon it was time for everyone to leave and I never got to hear what he could have shared. 

I recall this story not to lambast the gentleman that interjected, but to learn from him. It could be that the wisdom I gained from his actions was greater than the wisdom that I could have gained from the others’ words. His actions taught a valuable lesson. We must be willing to be quiet and listen to learn. I am a talker and I am apt to interject to teach, it’s just how I am. There have been times though that I sit and listen, because it is more beneficial at the time for me to be quiet. We must discern when it is time to speak and time to listen. We may not always have something to contribute to the conversation and that’s okay. Give some thought to if what you are going to say actually contributes to the conversation. 

On the other hand we may have the knowledge or understanding to interject, but it’s not the time. It is important for others to speak. Sometimes if you do have the knowledge it is important to the speaker that you are sitting there supporting them in your silence. A simple head nod or gesture of agreeance can be powerfully supportive. This may be hard for those of us that are apt to teach, but in order for others to grow in their speaking and teaching it is important. And who knows you may actually learn something on the subject that you didn’t know.

You know how you don’t learn new information? By always doing the speaking. You say what you know and if you don’t take time to listen  you won’t learn something new. So take time to listen. This is how you will learn. 

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James 1:19 NLT  “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry” .

Proverbs 1:5 NIV “let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance”