Listen and Learn (12/28/2024)

Today is my father’s birthday. He would be 100 today. As I sat with my memories this morning in prayer, one rose to the top, and I realized what an impact my dad’s words and example have had in forming me into the person I am. He taught me so many things, but perhaps the greatest was the art of listening.

I remember watching him and people’s response to him. I asked him about it once. His answer was short but memorable. “Listen and learn.” I watched him even more intently to see if I could figure out what he meant, and I did figure it out. My dad was a listener. He listened to learn more about others, to grasp more clearly their needs and concerns, and to receive more fully their gifts and crosses. I learned from watching that listening, truly listening to the other accomplished a multitude of things: helped me to understand the other’s actions, helped me to identify their needs, helped me to respond more effectively eventually. I also learned that it was the secret to remembering names. I learned that if I focused on the other when we met rather than on what I was going to say, I could take the person in more fully, see them, and remember them.

And then one day, as I was in prayer telling the LORD all that was on my mind and in my heart, all that I was carrying and wanted to put down, all I was missing and wishing for, all that was wrong with the world that I could fix if given a chance, I longed for a path that would make me whole. And my father’s words drifted into my consciousness. “listen and learn.” And for the first time in my prayer life, I quit reciting my lists, I quit telling the LORD what should be, and I just listened. It was amazing!

There was no voice, just knowing. There was instant peace that caused me to quit thrashing and to accept just being. There was illumination of mind and heart and soul. And there I was, as I am called to be, a child of the LORD, just listening.

Jesus reminds us of this gift. “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you will find rest for yourselves” (Matthew 11:28-29).

That was the day I discerned that I was to study the scriptures more deeply. I did. I got my masters in biblical Hebrew and Greek and studied the texts, listening with my whole being. “Listen and learn.”

Years later, when my sister was struggling especially with her prayer life, I shared with her what I had learned, and I shared 1 Kings 19: 12. The point I shared with my sister was that we miss the LORD’s voice and message because we expect it come in earth-shaking or visually dramatic delivery when the LORD’s presence is most often experienced in the stillness, in the whisper. That’s why we must “listen” to learn.

This day, I give thanks for my dad. Happy birthday, Dad. And I give thanks for his guidance through word and example. And I give thanks to the LORD for both of these and so very much more including who I am because the LORD made me so. And I renew my promise to daily be still, listen and learn. Heaven knows I am far from perfect, but I promise to keep listening.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well,