Ears that hear and eyes that see—
the Lord has made them both.
—Proverbs 20:12
I felt sorry for two people: a waitress and a little girl.
The waitress, because she couldn’t get the attention of the table guests to take their order: mom, dad, and two teenagers were glued to their cell phones. And the little girl, because she was being ignored. (But don’t worry about her; they’ll soon give her a tablet so she can play games before she can read.)
Technology is impressive, but it’s not a friend of personal communication. That smartphone screen doesn’t give a rip about you. It won’t sit still, look you in the eye, and care about your concerns.
What are the ingredients of really listening? Here’s a short list for starters:
- Genuine concern.
- Undivided attention.
- Focused eye contact.
- Deferred judgment.
Ditch the phone and pay attention to those around you.
It’s one thing to hear;
quite another to really listen.