Quick to hear; slow to speak
As I’ve mentioned several times on this blog, I talk too much. I probably write too much here, and I know that I speak too much when I’m with other people.
Don’t misunderstand me; I’m not saying that I should write (here) or talk (when I’m with other people). Instead, I recognize in myself a tendency to speak too much. That is, I tend to speak when I should listen.
Last weekend, God helped me with this problem. With all the weather changes recently (temperatures dropping and rising), my sinuses began to complain. By Sunday morning, when we were meeting with the church, I could barely talk.
So, while the church was reading Scripture about prayer and discussing prayer, I primarily had to shut up and listen. This was a good thing for me, and I hope that I can learn how to listen more even when I can (physically) talk.
I did talk Sunday. But, I had to be very careful and strategic about what I said. While it was a struggle for me to be silent (because of my tendency to talk), I enjoyed listening very much.
Based on this post I will no longer leave comments here! But seriously, I think this boils down to: do I think I have all the answers or do I think I can learn from what other people are saying? If you think you can learn you will want to listen. If you think you have all the answers you will share them, much like I am doing now, in this comment! Yeah, I’m with you on the liking to talk thing!
Dan,
“If you think you can learn you will want to listen.” Now that you’ve shoved the knife in, go ahead and twist it a few times. 🙂
Seriously, you’re exactly right.
-Alan