Hearing without Listening

Jesus in speaking about sheep said, “My sheep hear my voice and another they will not follow.” Within the context of that word “hear” is the aspect of focused listening.  One of the major problems of humanity is we “hear” but do not really listen. We find ourselves saying “yes” or “shaking our head in the affirmative without having any idea what we have just agreed with because of the failure to focus. There is a story that has been passed down concerning President Franklin D. Roosevelt that illustrates my point. Apparently Roosevelt was so tired of smiling the expected presidential smile  and saying the usual expected words at the myriad of White House receptions  that, one evening he decided to find out whether anybody was really listening to what he was saying or not. As each person came up to him with an extended hand, he flashed that big smile and said, "I murdered my grandmother this morning." People would automatically respond with comments like "How lovely!" or "It is nice to meet you mister President!" Nobody listened to what he was actually saying.... except for one foreign diplomat. When the president said, "I murdered my grandmother this morning," the diplomat responded softly, "I’m sure she had it coming." Although humored, if you are like me, you have had the same experience. I’m embarrassed to count the number of times I have lost focus as someone was telling me something.  I have found myself being drawn back into the conversation not having a clue what the person has said. Even more embarrassing are the moments when they have asked a question and are waiting for me to answer. While humiliating, to be guilty in the natural is not a big deal, but when it comes to the spiritual it’s much more serious.  God is always speaking.  Because of this we must be focused in our listening. Why is it so important? Its value can be summed up in the experience of a friend of mine.  While fasting, the Lord spoke to him and said, “You have missed most of the significant things I wanted to do through you this year because of your inability to listen.”  We can only launch out as we listen--learn as we listen--love as we listen. God wants to move us from survival to significance. He can only do that as we hear—listen—and then obey.