Staring Off Into Space At Our Expense is Not God’s Nature
This past weekend in worship we talked about how God is attentive to our needs and our prayers. Psalm 139:1-18 gave a great guide as to how God is attentive on the deepest levels. God has made Himself aware of our daily patterns. God’s presence consumes even the places we dare not go. God’s knowledge of us extends from the smallest building block of our DNA to the greatest hurt and biggest joy in our lives. Because nothing escapes His eye and heart, and because we are promised that His attention is turned to us with the utmost intensity, we trust that God has ordered things for us according to His great love.
That kind of attention is hard to model. There are things we cannot do because of the limitation of the flesh. Yet, with a little help from God and a little work toward others, we can capitalize on the ability to observe and care about what goes on around us. We can discern the building blocks of a friend’s life, according to how they order their days and by paying attention to what they value. With an eye and a heart toward their needs, we can hear them and, if allowed, share in their greatest joys.
It is an opportunity for great spiritual growth and satisfaction in our Savior to be able to aid in the compassionate care of God at work in this world.
www.businesslistening.com gives great advice on how to listen effectively, so as to really hear what is ailing those who are seeking help. Five steps to better listening can help us overcome some of the stumbling blocks our busyness and distractions cause when trying to be attentive.
(1) Get over yourself, give them a solo
Let people talk uninhibited; let them finish before you speak; give them the opportunity to brainstorm or self-examine their point. They may not know how to verbalize, at first, what their real point/problem is.
(2) Stop multi-tasking
Multi-tasking serves your immediate purpose, not theirs. Assume people notice when you are only engaged on a half-hearted level. Multi-tasking also causes you to miss many non-verbal cues that body language brings out.
(3) Recap regularly
Recapping what is said helps to show that you are listening. Recapping also shows that you comprehend what has been said.
(4) Use connecting words
Sometimes it helps to give affirming words, like “ok”, “uh huh”, or “I get it”.
(5) Use body language
Use frequent eye contact. Face them squarely. Be aware that body language exists and use it constructively when you can.
We want to believe that people care. Sometimes they do, and they show it. It’s at those times we can thank God that His model affects and inspires more than people might imagine. For all of the other times, and even those, we know that God is actively engaged, more than just seeing what is going on. His attentiveness goes much deeper. He has felt the pain of this world in Jesus Christ, and so His attentiveness means He shares in our griefs and our joys.
Be attentive in the ways that God has gifted you. Listen, on that deeper level.
Amen.
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