The Art of Listening
Replica Ark of the Covenant Wikipedia |
I was in Spain serving a religious mission. I spent a lot of time reading scriptures and during that week I was studying the Pentateuch. When the conversation turned to the Ark I became very excited. I could contribute to the conversation. I found it remarkable that I had been reading about the ark of the covenant that very morning comparing its references in the King James and Reina Valera translations.
So with my limited Spanish I broke into the conversation and spent the next 10-15 minutes talking. I used the symbolic importance of the Ark and its imbued power to weave an intricate discussion regarding God, His Grace, Love and Power. I made numerous grammatical errors but I am confident I was well understood.
This story highlights key differences between hearing and listening. I was trying to listen but I could not. I didn't have the skill set to understand. I could try and follow the flow of the conversation but the language was foreign and it was almost all that I could do to just hear. To add the responsibility of listening would have been too much. So I sat there and heard until I thought I had listened.
I had not.
Ark Replica www.breakingnews.ie |
Today I use that experience to remind myself to listen and not just hear. As you learn a new language you train yourself to hear the breaks in the words and how they differ from the breaks in syllables. Once you have that down you can start to understand the words people speak. From that understanding you can take your hearing to listening.
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