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Fast Listener

Pastor's Piece, by Pr Andy

 
We sat together on a white couch, a slight silver pattern with cream undertone in a long light filled room with marble appointed palisade flower holders and beautiful French lamps, in what felt like a palatial yet simply appointment room.  The smell of roses near the front door only outdone by the smell of toast and coffee (well it might have been natures cuppa).   Once a week for brunch we met, shared, talked, thought, prayed, laughed, planned, dreamed, occasionally we cried- but what a warm experience that was! 

It was so special to sit there and eat the various simple, yet beautiful, courses of food.  First the nuts and grains, then some fruit, then toast and a hot drink, all light but beautiful- oh to sit and share that time again!  The most striking thing I miss about the warmth and safety of sitting with Stenio and his wonderful wife Marise, was the questions and the listening.  Listening, questioning, discussing and growing was always on the menu!

We often talk about the character and faithfulness of Jesus, but one of the best practical qualities of Jesus (and my friend and mentor Stenio) was that of being a good listener.  Ironically, He was criticised for it too!  Reading Matthew 9:10-13 we find it wasn't always popular to be there eating, listening, and sharing, especially with those that weren't considered to be the important, value adding part of the crowd.  Yet, if you went looking for Jesus, He would be found caring, listening, and sharing, He would be somewhere having been sent of God to bring eternity and hope to the daily grind.  Maybe one of the greater lessons of Jesus practice was His ability to listen, a mark of His selfless service!

In the Bible book of James 1:19-21, we read the contrast of the value of listening and contrastingly of selfishness.  James reminds us of the healing value and relation benefit of listening, it says "be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry".  This speaks to patience, to developing understanding, and to showing the saving love of God to one another. 

The beautiful thing about James 1:21 is that it reminds us as we listen to God through His word, through the Holy Spirit's impression on our hearts and minds, and as we practice listening, then we recognise the saving work of Jesus in our lives and can see that saving work realised in the life of others as we do as Jesus does.  Listening is an act of grace, scripture is filled with stories of a God who listens, a God who hears, and so may God help us to grow in this also.

Blessings

Pr Andy

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