Are We Listening to This?
Another Day Along the Way
Friday, February 24, 2006
Another day,
Standing in line to order a sandwich, I watched the man before me hand the servers a piece of paper. I thought, "He's ordering subs for a lot of people. I'll be here forever."
Yes, a selfish moment of self-talk. No, not a good grade in caring for others. It all changed suddenly when I heard his remarks to the cooks behind the counter. The page included an order just for him, all written in detail.
He said, "I can talk but can't hear nothin'."
I thought no longer about the length of time until an arrival of my six-inch-turkey-on-wheat-with-lettuce-tomatoes-pickle-oil-and-oregano. I stopped feeling hunger. I ceased my concern about making it in time for an appointment. I thought about a man who could talk but could not hear.
The cooks worked to read his writing. They loudly tried to ask a few questions while I tried to help in the whole process of ordering, cooking, and receiving. My heart felt love for a deaf man. My mind felt I had learned a lot about myself.
As I ate my turkey sub, I kept thinking about his comment. I heard a Voice placing an "order" to me, saying, "Too many people can talk but refuse to listen."I agreed. I know I can talk but often hear nothin'.
I'm asking for that to change. As we stand in life's line placing orders and offering requests, how is our hearing?
Let us listen. Let us be silent. And listen.
Along the way,Chris Maxwell
Powerful Statement: Are you listening to this?
(Revelation 13:9, The Message)
Friday, February 24, 2006
Another day,
Standing in line to order a sandwich, I watched the man before me hand the servers a piece of paper. I thought, "He's ordering subs for a lot of people. I'll be here forever."
Yes, a selfish moment of self-talk. No, not a good grade in caring for others. It all changed suddenly when I heard his remarks to the cooks behind the counter. The page included an order just for him, all written in detail.
He said, "I can talk but can't hear nothin'."
I thought no longer about the length of time until an arrival of my six-inch-turkey-on-wheat-with-lettuce-tomatoes-pickle-oil-and-oregano. I stopped feeling hunger. I ceased my concern about making it in time for an appointment. I thought about a man who could talk but could not hear.
The cooks worked to read his writing. They loudly tried to ask a few questions while I tried to help in the whole process of ordering, cooking, and receiving. My heart felt love for a deaf man. My mind felt I had learned a lot about myself.
As I ate my turkey sub, I kept thinking about his comment. I heard a Voice placing an "order" to me, saying, "Too many people can talk but refuse to listen."I agreed. I know I can talk but often hear nothin'.
I'm asking for that to change. As we stand in life's line placing orders and offering requests, how is our hearing?
Let us listen. Let us be silent. And listen.
Along the way,Chris Maxwell
Powerful Statement: Are you listening to this?
(Revelation 13:9, The Message)
2 Comments:
Along the Way always gives me food for thought. How often I "jump to conclusions", too, Pastor Chris. I guess we do need to be "Still and Know that I am God." Sherie
Thanks Chris for a powerful reminder. My wife tells me I need to be a better listener, and indeed that is true! I counsel many teens, and it's when I listen that I become most helpful with the problem or concern. Your day-to-day encounters help many of us along our journey.
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