Listen

In the month before moving to Maine, I was considering what to focus on during my time in New York, between moving back from Michigan and heading up north. Since this was a time of preparation for serving this congregation, I began to imagine an intense schedule of study and preparation, so that I would be ready when I arrived at New Hope. At one point when I was talking with a friend, I mentioned this idea of intense study and preparation. In response, He wisely observed that, if I were to jump straight into this intense schedule, I might find that I hadn’t actually been studying the things God actually wanted me to. Instead of running ahead with my ambitious schedule of preparation on my agenda, I needed to slow down and create space and time to listen to God in this in-between month. I could have taken off running with a plan of preparation, but might find too late that my running had taken me in a very different direction than God was leading. Instead of jumping straight into a schedule of frenetic activity, I needed to slow down to the point where God could actually point me in a new direction.

The command to listen to (and obey) God is woven through Scripture. And as we listen and obey, I believe we begin to be able to hear God’s voice more clearly. There are times of apparent silence when it seems God isn’t speaking at all—but if we listen to and obey what God clearly commands, then our ears become more and more tuned to hearing His will. Activity itself is not always the answer; our activity should be in service of and response to God’s Word and will. 

And as a final note, listening is a way of caring for others as well. Truly hearing what someone is saying, actually giving them the time of day. This quote captures something of how easy it is not to listen:

“People, if you pay attention to them, change the direction of one another's conversations constantly. It's like being a passenger in your car who suddenly grabs the steering wheel and turns you down a side street. For instance, if we met at a party and I wanted to tell you a story about the time I needed to get a soccer ball in my neighbor's yard but his dog chased me and I had to jump into a swimming pool to escape, and I began telling the story, you, hearing the words "soccer" and "neighbor" in the same sentence, might interrupt and mention that your childhood neighbor was Pele, the famous soccer player, and I might be courteous and say, Didn't he play for the Cosmos of New York? Did you grow up in New York? And you might reply that, no, you grew up in Brazil on the streets of Tres Coracoes with Pele, and I might say, I thought you were from Tennessee, and you might say not originally, and then go on to outline your genealogy at length. So my initial conversational gambit - that I had a funny story about being chased by my neighbor's dog - would be totally lost, and only because you had to tell me all about Pele. Learn to listen! I beg of you.” (Garth Stein, The Art of Racing in the Rain)

Instead of waiting just long enough to find a segue into something we want to say, truly hear what another is saying—especially when they are trusting enough to share something significant. But even what appears as small-talk may be significant; we learn a lot about each other in everyday, “insignificant” conversations—and these are times when trust is built little by little.

Listening is central to leadership, and really to our lives in general. We must first of all be followers and listeners—first of God, and then of others—before we can lead. Otherwise we might just find too late that we’ve been leading people in the wrong direction. After five weeks at New Hope, I must not forget this. Even as we plan fall programs and the next sermons series, I cannot stop listening to God or to members of this congregation. If activity and programs are to be in service of God and for the benefit of His people, I must come to know the voice of both.  

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” (Matthew 7:24-27, NIV)