One of the neglected spiritual practices within Christianity is the practice of listening. It’s ignored for a couple of reasons. One, we live in a world that has forgotten how to listen. We’re so inept at listening that people write books about it like The Lost Art of Listening. Two, we’re not sure how the discipline of listening works. Is it praying and then sitting in silence? Is it reading the Bible and then chanting over and over again a specific verse? How exactly is the disciple of listening enacted?
Some of you have it figured out. Some of you have stumbled upon it before. The question that I have for those of you who have successfully practiced the disciple of listening is this: How will you know when you are practicing the discipline of listening?
Welcome to the blog of Joe Hays, minister for Christ's Church for Brooklyn. We are a loving community of believers who seek to be the hands and feet of Christ, in service to our neighbors in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn and beyond.
I am not sure if you are talking about spiritual listening or listening in everyday life. Spiritually, I am lost most of the time. I never “hear” much - as much as I ask for some kind of guidance. Sometimes, i think the answers are all ready in my heart. I know what to do, I just need to listen to my gut!
Everyday listening, I am really good at when i want to be. I spent a lot of time listening to people tell me their stories when John was in the hospital, looking for some sort of outlook for John. I listened so well! I think I learned to listen during that time. If you are quiet, people will talk. There is something that happens to people during silence, they feel the need to fill it. I don’t!
I also found that during those times when you are listening - you do not always have to have an answer or a responce. Sometimes, you don’t have to say anything, just be there…listening… That’s what my husband does for me.
One of my favorite passage from Scripture and in song is “Be still and know…” So, I begin with being still. That’s easy for me, fits my temperament. But for some with a more social/control focused temperament, (like you, Joe?), this is really hard. Before we can listen, we have to be still.
When I’m with others, I make a conscious decision to not say anything during and not until after the other is finished speaking until it begins to feel awkward and uncomfortable. Sometimes a touch is equivalent to a word and the silence can go on a little longer. I just listen. I took a course some 17 years ago called “Adventures in Christian Living”. One of the disciplines was listening. I’ve carried some of those tools with me ever since.
Intentional silence in church leads to restless noises. Everyone begins looking around to see who forgot to pray or read or whatever. Amuses me. We’re not comfortable with silence. I often wonder what it is we’re afraid we will hear.
BTW, I incorporated that beautiful Taizè chant into our service last week, along with the corresponding Gethsemane reading from Matthew inserted. Made it interactive. It was rhythmic and flowed beautifully. Thanks for the mention of the song in your blog.