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WEEK 3
Becoming a Great Listener “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry” (James 1:19).
A businessman explained that when his children were little, he often came home late in the afternoon, spent some time with them, and then sat down to watch the news. One evening that schedule didn’t suit his six-year-old daughter, Catherine. When he turned his attention to “The Nightly News,” she wanted him to stay focused on her. As she kept talking about the things she experienced that day, he tried to listen to Catherine and the broadcaster at the same time. That didn’t work. She knew she wasn’t connecting with him, so she came over to his chair and crawled up in his lap. She put her hands on his cheeks and turned his face from the television toward her, and then she told him, “Dad, I’m over here!” As we’ve seen, the first task for professional or lay counselors is to help people feel understood. It’s not enough for us to understand the facts they are telling us. They need to be convinced that we are connected to their hearts as well as their histories. In this chapter we’ll examine the art and science of being a good listener.
Do you think listening is more of an art or a science? Explain your answer.
