9 Dec, 2010
Say What?
I worked at Pepsi® for 8 years in Knoxville, TN and started out as a receptionist. Part of my duties included taking orders from customers for their weekly soda deliveries. One day a gentleman called in to place his order and before I hung up, I asked him that name of the business. He told me, but I couldn’t hear him. I asked him to repeat it. He again told me the name of his company, but I still couldn’t understand what he said. Again I asked him to repeat the name of the business. I knew he was getting irritated because I kept having to ask him.
Finally, after about 4 or 5 times asking him to repeat what he said, the customer replied, very slowly and deliberately, “I said, Tennessee School for Deaf!”
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” 27 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ 28 “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”
Listening is so important. It’s a vital part of communication. We limit the power that we receive from the Lord when we don’t listen to Him. We can’t let things distract us from our time with the Father each day. The communication we have with Him can’t be one sided. We have to listen even more than we speak. How else will we be able to understand what wisdom His wants to share with us?
I was quite embarrassed that I had to ask the customer several times the name of his business. I know he thought I was making fun or trying to be funny by not ‘hearing’ him. I tried to assure him that I really couldn’t hear him, but the more I tried to explain, the worse I sounded.
Perhaps I wasn’t listening as much as I should have. Maybe I was distracted by co-workers in the office, the other phone lines ringing, the radio. It didn’t matter. I was responsible for getting all the information and listening and makings sure that the drivers knew who was calling and ensure that they got their order correctly. And I almost failed.
Have you had your ears checked lately? What about your spiritual ears? What’s keeping your from fully hearing (and understanding) the Word of God?
This week, determine to listen more to God. Really listen. Spend time alone with him without any distractions.
Talk to your friends, but listen to them more than you usually do. Wait for them to finish speaking; don’t interrupt their story.
Follow up with what they’re saying with more leading questions so you get to know them better than you currently do. Let them know that you are taking an interest in their lives and that you really care. Don’t turn a deaf ear to their needs. Your actions will speak louder than words and they’ll hear (and see) that you are being like Jesus.
- May 2012 [14]
- April 2012 [19]
- March 2012 [21]
- February 2012 [19]
- January 2012 [18]
- December 2011 [20]
- November 2011 [15]
- October 2011 [15]
- September 2011 [14]
- August 2011 [22]
- July 2011 [19]
- June 2011 [21]
- May 2011 [20]
- April 2011 [20]
- March 2011 [21]
- February 2011 [20]
- January 2011 [21]
- December 2010 [21]
- November 2010 [21]
- October 2010 [21]
- September 2010 [22]
- August 2010 [21]
- July 2010 [22]
- June 2010 [20]
- May 2010 [18]
- April 2010 [20]
- March 2010 [23]
- February 2010 [19]
- January 2010 [22]
- December 2009 [22]
- November 2009 [21]
- October 2009 [22]
- September 2009 [21]
- August 2009 [20]
- July 2009 [21]
- June 2009 [22]
- May 2009 [18]
- April 2009 [15]
- March 2009 [7]
- February 2009 [17]
- January 2009 [20]
- December 2008 [23]
- November 2008 [19]
- October 2008 [22]
- September 2008 [22]
- August 2008 [19]
- July 2008 [22]
- June 2008 [11]
- May 2008 [19]
- April 2008 [22]
- March 2008 [21]
- February 2008 [18]
- January 2008 [20]
- December 2007 [18]
- November 2007 [15]
- October 2007 [19]
- September 2007 [18]
- August 2007 [12]
- July 2007 [12]
- June 2007 [9]
- May 2007 [11]
- April 2007 [10]
- March 2007 [11]
- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [7]
- December 2006 [4]
- November 2006 [13]
- October 2006 [17]
- September 2006 [11]
- August 2006 [16]
- July 2006 [10]
- June 2006 [3]
