My son just completed a wonderful internship in a second grade classroom. One of his observations was that the students all got along really well because there were no cliques. He also commented on how well the children did their work and would help each other. When I asked how this all came about, he said it was because the teacher listened. She told him at the beginning of his internship that he should listen to the kids and realize that each kid was different and that was OK. There was no yelling, no fighting, just acceptance.In the Bible text above, Jesus has been asked by John, who is in prison, if he is the Messiah and Jesus says that John should listen to the reports about his deeds. Can there be any question? Jesus proceeds to warn his contemporaries who are ignoring his great deeds, to use their ears. He concludes by telling his audience that his is a gentle yoke and will give rest to their souls.
Why is listening important? I think it is because listening takes us out of ourselves. It connects us to others and gives us new ideas. It shows us how huge and diverse the creation is. It gives us options. It gives us perspective so that our problems do not seem so overwhelming. It gives us support and makes us feel less lonely. It is a gift of time that shows we value others and others value us. It teaches us and makes us laugh. It is a conduit for love.
How do we become good listeners? Practice.
What does Jesus tell us will follow good listening? A rested soul under a gentle yoke. Listening is the acceptance of boundaries and of our place or responsibility in the world. When we stop striving to prove our worth in futile ways, we will fit into, perhaps in unique ways, the puzzle that is life. Not holding ourselves as most important is difficult, but hard, honest work is often followed by the sweetest, most contented rest.