Wednesday, April 16, 2025
“Listen More; Talk Less”
That sounds like a poorly scripted phone commercial, doesn’t it? I’m sure someone used it at some point before they realized that not being able to talk back would not help to sell more phones. However, it would certainly help sell more radio and podcast advertising, wouldn’t it?
Come to think of it, listening without being able to verbally respond has been a way of life for the human race for thousands of years. Moses probably didn’t get any feedback when he delivered the 10 Commandments from the mountain, nor did anyone likely interrupt Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount. It’s probably not likely that someone interrupted Abraham Lincoln when he delivered the Gettysburg Address, and the entire country was listening when Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered his “Day of Infamy” Speech.
What do we enjoy hearing? Do we like listening to programs, podcasts, or broadcast and streaming stations? Have we considered applying those same listening skills to our conversations with other people? What if we just listened to someone else? Is it even possible for us to let them speak and express themselves without us interrupting, correcting, or, even worse, silencing them?
Oh boy, today’s Lenten Challenge is loaded with opportunities and potholes, so make sure to pay attention. Try to make it a full 24 hours focused on listening more and talking less!
“To answer before listening—That is folly and shame.” (Proverbs 18:13, NIV)
