I have a friend who insists that there is a difference between listening and hearing.
“Listening includes hearing.”
“What?”
“Hearing isn’t listening.”
“Pardon?”
“It’s simple, listening is intentionally concentrating and paying attention.”
“Okay.”
“Hearing is detecting noise without caring to distinguish meaning.”
“Really?”
“Yes, so many people hear but don’t listen.”
“Say that again.”
“Hearing isn’t necessarily interested in listening.”
“Wow!”
“Listening perceives the significance of what it hears because it’s focused.”
“Hmm.”
“What if you actually listened instead of merely hearing sounds?”
“Well I …”
“Exactly! You’d realize God isn’t speaking just to hear Himself talk.”
Thought:
Giving God my undivided attention is what I long to do but this doesn’t happen very often because I’m so full of myself. Still there are times when I go beyond hearing and I actually listen. Those are the times I treasure because I’m doing more than playing at religion. These are the times when my relationship with the Lord is given life and breath.
I’m discovering that listening is a learned skill.
Thanks for your time on Lee’s Nite Radio.
