The power of listening

From The Pastor’s Pen – By Brian Horrobin

Marketing guru, Dean Jackson, is credited with saying the following: “Listening is an art that requires attention over talent, spirit over ego, others over self.”

A basic, yet powerful, way that we can connect with another person is to listen to them.

Listening also tells the other person that what they have to say is important and their life is valuable.

Many years ago I was asked to participate in a listening circle on nearby Walpole Island First Nation.

The purpose was to hear the stories of several residential school survivors and learn from their painful past.

Let me tell you, that was one of the most powerful afternoons in the last 25 years for me.

I was completely unaware of the horrific experiences that these people had endured and in fact, was taught in my early years of elementary school geography and history to believe otherwise.

I learned so much that day and its effect is with me still.

It changed my thinking forever.

What if I had chosen to decline the invitation to listen to these stories, or had tried to interrupt them with my ignorant and biased opinions?

I would have missed so much and would also have lost an opportunity to connect with these precious people.

As a pastor, I am in a profession where talking is a major role that I play.

However, listening is just as important and at times, the greater of the two.

Are you a good listener, or do you tend to always feel the need to air your own opinion?

Why not practice a little ‘close mouth, open ear’ time this week and see what you can learn?

You may want to make this a habit!

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