REFLECTIONS

Power for Healing

James sat with the people who wanted to talk with him. One by one He listened patiently to their concerns, complaints, and fears. All he offered was hope, but there was little reason for them to share it. Yet, James met their needs. “I feel heard,” one of them said, “Thank you for listening to me.”

As an astonished witness to it all, I noted that James, the company’s CEO, offered no solutions; he cast no judgment on their views; he made no attempt to dissuade them from their positions. James listened to capture every fragment of their desires, every aspect of their perceptions, and every wisp of their feelings. He listened for understanding. He would seek agreement another day.

The result was amazing. Through listening James carried the power for healing into a broken workplace. With each person, he listened intently as they expressed their views, their desires, their beliefs, and their feelings. Never once did he challenge their perspectives. Neither his agreement with them nor their agreement with him was important. All that mattered was for them to feel heard, and for him to understand.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as to love God begins with listening to His Word, so the beginning of love to our brethren is learning to listen to them. [Christians] forget that listening can be a greater service that speaking.”

Listening. With it comes understanding, and with understanding, the power for healing.

Think about it.

You are the light of the world,

Richard +

www.reflectingthesavior.org

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