God has endowed most of us with two ears and one mouth; presumably so that we can spend more time listening and less time sounding off with our own opinionsYet it seems that everyone seems to want to talk these days and no one wants to listen. People wish to air their own views before they have given themselves time to receive and develop the ideas of others. Opposing parties, nowadays, tend to shout past each other, instead of taking time to sit down and listen to the other person's point of view. Remember the old B T slogan 'it's good to talk', well it's also good to listen. This virtue of keeping silent applies especially to the practice of prayer and meditation. As one of the ancient Judges of Israel, Samuel, famously prayed: "Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening". The success of the well known organisation "The Telephone Samaritans" has been due to the willingness of its band of volunteers just to sit down and listen to the problems of others. As a result, the Samaritans have been able to help countless depressed or suicidal people. The ministry of listening is the most neglected ministry of our times, yet it is a ministry we can all exercise. To be a good listener; to get alongside people in their time of need; to share another's problems through sympathetic listening is the most rewarding ministry of all. I BELIEVE IN LISTENING! Every good wish, John D. Kelly |
THE TELEPHONE PRAYER"I have just hung up; why did he phone?I don't know". Oh! I get it ". I talked a lot and listened very little. Forgive me, Lord, it was a monologue and Not a dialogue. I explained my idea and did not get his; Since I didn't listen, I learned nothing, Since I didn't listen, I didn't help, Since I didn't listen, we didn't communicate. Forgive me, Lord, for we were connected, And now we are cut-off." { Michelle Quoist} On the lighter sideA mother whale, suckling her young, gave them this advice:"Remember , my dears, you can be harpooned when spouting!" On the fishmonger's slab lay a prime salmon, in front of which a caption was printed With the words "IF ONLY I HAD KEPT MY BIG MOUTH SHUT, I WOULDN'T BE HERE NOW!" FROM THE MISSION FIELD - The Churchwarden was so pleased to inform the congregation that their Vicar had recovered from his illness that he displayed the following notice: GOD IS GOOD Every good wish John D Kelly |