i include the following not because i'm any good at it. rather, because i think what bonoeffer is getting at is critical to relationships with other human beings. maybe there's more of the love of God expressed in real listening than in any other part of discourse. listening exalts other; it humbles self. it speaks louder than words: "you are important to me. i genuinely care about you."
from Dietrich Bonoeffer, Life Together:
The first service that one owes to others in the fellowship consists in listening to them. Just as love of God begins with listening to His Word, so the beginning of love for the brethren is learning to listen to them… Many people are looking for an ear that will listen. They do not find it amongst Christians, because these Christians are talking where they should be listening, but he who can no longer listen to his brother will soon no longer be listening to God either; he will be doing nothing but prattle in the presence of God, too. This is the beginning of the death of the spiritual life, and in the end there is nothing left but spiritual chatter and clerical condescension arrayed in pious words. One who cannot listen long and patiently will presently be talking beside the point, and be never really speaking to others, albeit he not be conscious of it.
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3 comments:
I've been checking your blog along with others just out of habit, and I almost skipped over this post on my way to click on Mark's link (this is my routine...it's sad).
Great post. It's often so hard to just hold my tongue.
I've only read the first chapter of Life Together, but it meant a lot to me.
On a similar note, Bonhoeffer also talks about our need to speak to the Lord about a brother MORE than our need to speak of the Lord to a brother.
In other words, pray.
...or sister!
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