Listening is a skill that can be finely tuned throughout your lifetime.  Often it takes great patience to be a good listener.  Most of the time people who are good listeners have intentionally worked at improving that skill. 

Listening is something most of us do regularly.  We listen to others regarding things they are excited about, things they are worried about, things that make them happy, sad, mad, etc.  We know that we do a great deal of listening, but do we hear what the other person is really saying?  Are we genuinely listening? 

It is not easy to be a good listener.  When you are talking to someone and their eyes are moving around the room looking to see who they are going to speak to next, they are nervously looking at their phone, or they are interrupting as you are speaking, their listening skills have not been perfected! 

It is fairly easy to spot someone who is not genuinely listening.  My guess is that most of us have been guilty of this at one time or another.  It is something that I work on continually. 

When I feel myself slipping off focus, I work very hard to refocus my thoughts back on the person or group.  If I find my thoughts wandering again, I very quickly evaluate the importance of my presence in the conversation.  Upon occasion, I apologize and find some gentle way to move on.  However, there are many times when I find it important to stay in the conversation despite the fact that it is difficult to stay focused.

In those times when it is important to be in a conversation that is difficult for me, I pray for the strength to stay engaged and stay silent.  People often know when you are not listening.  When someone is telling me something important to them, I want to be present in the conversation with a listening ear.  At that moment it is important that the conversation is about the person, not about me. 

Listening to God’s direction takes great patience for me.  After prayer, I have to remind myself to be patient and listen for guidance from God.  Although I want immediate answers, that is not always God’s plan.  When I give my issues to God I have to constantly remind myself to listen for God’s direction.

Listening seems so easy, but good listeners are difficult to find.  When you listen to others you make them feel that they are a priority.   When I find my mind wandering while listening, I pray for focus. 

It is interesting that listen and silent are made up of the same letters.  To be a good listener, you must be able to be silent. 

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