Listen in Order to Hear.

Life’s lessons are abundant for those prepared to learn. Just stop and think. Then ask yourself a question: Why do I have one mouth and two ears? Yes, two ears to listen while one mouth to speak! A great lesson you say. And you are right. Now test yourself in another life’s lesson: the last time someone spoke to you were you really listening or were you thinking your own thought, how to share your own experiences while your friend was sharing his or her own? So you did not really listen to your friend, eh! Great injustice. St. James observes: “know this my brothers: everyone should be quick to hear, slow to speak…” (1:19). Listening with an intent to hear is one of the greatest services one can give to a friend. Do we listen in order to give counsel? Not at all times. Sometimes the best gift we can give to one in distress or even to our friend is the gift of ourselves expressed in listening attentively to them. Let us learn to listen for in listening we learn about our friends and about life in general. Is this not one of the lessons of life?