Gò0dNews for Everyone
Quick to Listen
J
by Sheneka Land
ames 1:19 admonishes us to be “quick to listen and
Relationships thrive and grow when watered by the gift of
slow to speak.” Most often, this Scripture is used
personal attention. Further, a committed listener will grow
to discourage overuse of the tongue, and while we
in wisdom, empathy, and love for others.
may begin to talk less, I believe that we still find ourselves
Recently, a young man shared with me a frustrating
challenged to listen well or to be “quick” to listen.
scenario in which a pastor asked him a question regarding
Dictionary.com defines the word quick as “prompt or swift
his academic journey. As the young man began to respond,
to do something, prompt to perceive; sensitive; prompt to
the pastor interrupted him and began overtalking him
understand, learn, etcetera; of ready intelligence.”
without allowing any verbal space for the answer to his question. In a matter of seconds, the pastor was saying, “See ya later man!” leaving the young man perplexed. What began as an invitation to share life with another turned into a crazy-making conversation that seemed to suggest that the pastor really wasn’t interested in the young man at all, but rather just felt an obligation to acknowledge him. Who among us has not been guilty of not listening well? Human nature makes it easy to forget that others’ words, thoughts, and ideas are just as important as our own. To listen well is to allow others
Relationships are difficult to build and maintain if we do
a seat at the table, and everyone wants a place to belong.
not listen well. And many relationships that begin healthy
When we fail to listen well, we cheat ourselves of valuable
and strong can slip into decay if we allow distractions to
relationships because we never get to know who people
lead us into a practice of auditory neglect. Distractions may
really are nor do we discover the ways in which they can
cause us to either not listen at all or to partially listen. Partial
contribute to our world through their strengths and talents.
listening involves hearing only parts of a conversation, and
Let’s accept the challenge to become better listeners by
more often than not, the listener will elicit a wrong response
making ourselves present with good questions and creating
that will frustrate or even injure the heart of the one trying
affirming spaces for those who want to be heard so that they
to communicate.
are truly known.
want and deserve to be heard. If we intend to affirm and enable others, we must learn to listen promptly and well.
24 // July 2020
About The Author
Healthy listening requires us to understand that others Sheneka Land is an ordained minister and a graduate of the Pentecostal Theological Seminary. She enjoys speaking and writing and is co-author of From Rejection to Validation (pathwaybookstore.com). Sheneka pursues opportunities in care ministry where she can spread the news of hope and transformation to the suffering. She is mother to four sons whom she homeschooled for twenty-four years. She and her husband, Jon, currently reside in Cleveland, TN. www.thethreadsofgrace.com
