Listening

My friend, Annie, talking with one of her students. 

As an American teacher living in another country where English is not widely spoken, I have found I spend a lot of time listening. While riding on the tram I listen to those conversations going on around me. I cannot understand most of what they are talking, but I listen for those very few words I DO know. In class I listen to my students use my native language. Sometimes it is hard for me to understand even what they are saying due to their accent.

At either time of listening I have to concentrate rather intently to grasp any bit of understanding. Many times my students become frustrated when I ask them to repeat what they have said. Most of the time it is because I didn't understand them or couldn't hear what they said. Communication has become a huge difficulty in my life overseas.

Oh, how I took advantage of the ability to converse with anyone I come across anywhere that I am. I have heard from people who move back to America after living overseas of the shock they receive when they can understand every word that is being spoken. It is like entering the minds of all of those around you: insert clip from What Women Want where Mel Gibson is surround by the thoughts of women!

Listening becomes easy, you don't have to think about what the person is saying it just enters your brain and comprehension takes place. The need to listen closely and purposefully disappears. On the other hand, sometimes on the tram or in the staff room at school I become overwhelmed and don't really want to listen all that much, so I retreat into my own thoughts and have a nice little conversation with myself. :)

I know I tend to do this a lot, but I have to link this to my relationship with Christ. Because, let's face it everything in life is a parallel to how we interact with Him.

Listening to God speak into our lives can sometimes seem as if He is speaking another language. The meaning is not very clear and we strain to hear any glimpse of something that we know so that we can grasp what He is communicating. We listen intently to the message when we really want to know what He wants us to do.

Other rare times it is as easy to hear as our native language. It enters our heart and we don't even realize it is there. Understanding just happens naturally. We are surrounded by His voice and He is speaking so clearly. It is usually in these times that we sprint into action or it is when He is telling us something we want to hear.

And what happens most of the time is we become weary of listening intently so we block it out. The voice becomes background noise. We don't care what He is talking about nor do we want to listen. We retreat into our own thoughts and plans and wait for the message to become clear again.

I don't know what this means in my life right now. I know God is constantly speaking to me the question is, do I really want to understand, even when it is hard?