Just Like a Sponge

Just Like A Spon ge

By Pastor Brad Heintz

“Just like a sponge !” said my trainer, in an active listening and communication seminar. “Like a sponge?” I thought, “That is odd.” Then he went and taught us that when you are truly actively listening to someone you need to be like a sponge and soak up everything they are saying. Their words are like water filling your sponge. Don’t react. Don’t respond. Just receive. And when the sponge is full your first task in active listening is to reflect back what you heard. It’s like you are now squeezing the water out of the sponge. Then let them clarify, explain and communicate more. Ask clarifying questions to make sure you understand what the person is saying. Once you have confirmation that you have received what was given, then respond. “Wow,” I thought, “that is a lot of work!” Then the trainer said, “I know what you are thinking, this sounds like a lot of work, but the more you understand each other at the beginning of a conversation, the less work you will have down the road.”

Have you ever misunderstood someone? Have you jumped to conclusions that you found out later weren’t true? Or maybe you assumed something. We all know what happens when you assume. Just take the word apart…

February is the month of love. Therefore, I encourage you to start with active listening in your relationships. It will make a world of difference and really help you love each other better. Why is this the first step? Because, people can treat conversations like a squirt gun fight rather than soaking sponges. I remember when I was a kid, my mom would go to the five and dime

and get us guns to give us something to do on a hot summer afternoon. I know it’s not politically correct, but we would have so much fun running shooting each other with water. Most communication can be like that. What I can say? How quickly I can respond? If you are a little competitive, what can I say to get the advantage?

There is no room for squirt gun style communication in loving relationships. We need to begin with actively listening that will lead us into actively loving one another. James wrote in his letter in the Bible, “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger…” (James 1:19 ESV)

God is a great example of someone who knows how to actively listen and then lovingly respond. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. (John 3:16-17 NIV) Let’s leave water guns to the kids on a hot summer afternoon and in this month of February, let’s take the first step to truly loving others by first actively listening to them. Jesus said, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you.” (Mark 4:24 ESV)

Pastor Brad Heintz is the founding pastor of Living Word Church in Seabrook, Texas, a vibrant familystyle, non-denominational gathering of believers who take a pure, simple and real approach to faith and life. www.LWCBA. org Like us and watch us live on www. Facebook.com/LWCBA