“Be quick to listen; slow to speak.” James 1:19 NIV
“Speaking is easy; it’s the listening part that we find difficult.”
My thoughts today ask “Can you hear me now?”
Good relationships are based on good communication. That’s a basic understanding. I find it interesting that when God created the world and all that is within it, He used the spoken word. God said, “let there be . . and there was! Genesis 1:3 NIV. Later when God made man, He did not speak man into existence, though He could have; He “formed the man” and breathed into him “the breath of life.” Genesis 3:7 NIV.
Communication is much more than merely giving information. Information we do remarkably well, communication not so well. You see communication, by the very origin of the word, requires some measure of something achieved “in common.” Communication has the common objective of a mutual understanding of the information being shared. When God wanted to communicate with man his redemption, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld Him as the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 NKJV. God chose to interact with His creation.
Speaking is easy; it’s the listening part that we find difficult. I have found that people won’t listen until they know you will. You have been speaking since you were less than one year old. When did you start listening as well? A learned willingness and ability to truly listen invites collaboration and allows elaboration. That is essential to effective communication and that is critical to better relationships. Listening validates others. Listen to understand; listen without judging; listen without interrupting; listen without correcting. That’s when heart and ideas get exchanged, not just facts. That’s how both people learn better and relationships deepen. Information is from and to the head; communication is from and to the heart.
And that’s when information becomes communication, understanding, and learning. Communication involves dialogue, the back and forth of conversation, not the bits and pieces supplied in one’s monologue however relevant or factual. Texting, email, and Facebook are great for dispensing information, a bit less great at real communication. I am not against the myriad of technical means not available to a previous generation. It is just that I fear the volume of information and the ease and rapidity of its random delivery diminishes the practice of mutual and meaningful communication.
Ask yourself, is this information the other person needs and wants to know and am I the one best to share it? But also consider if there is an obvious need that the information be rightly and mutually understood, and whether that might require communication with both person’s cooperative interaction and helpful input. Your answer to those should guide your giving information or sharing communication. Information is useful; communication is relational. Efficiency is not always the best path to partnership.
God was careful to fully communicate with you (See 1 John 1:1-5 NIV); shouldn’t you be committed to purposefully communicate with others for their benefit – and while you’re communicating, the most important and eternal truth you can communicate with others is the love and forgiveness of God in salvation through His Son, Jesus. See John 3:15-21 NIV.
My prayer for you today is: listen well, and do so with your heart. You will be better.