Beyond the Words - A Heart
It’s not a title I wear proudly, but I’m the Queen of Short Stories Made Long. Few are more deserving of this title than I.
Unfortunately, not only am I long-winded, I’m also, at best, a mediocre listener. Try as I may, I find my mind drifting and my eyes following random activity in the background during what by all measures is a riveting conversation. “Focus, girl! Focus!” But all the self-talk in the world is wasted on easily distracted me.
I promise – it’s not the speaker! I’m the problem! I’m surrounded by delightful, fascinating, interesting people, but my teeny-tiny attention span is a hindrance to all the deep, meaningful conversations I could be having if only I were more disciplined.
A good place for me to start is to take my cues from Jesus Himself. He consistently practiced the “three L’s” – listening, looking, and loving. One example of His masterful communication techniques appears in Mark 10:17-22.
A man runs up to Jesus and falls on his knees in humility before Him. He asks, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus listens. He hears the man’s words, and He hears his heart. He knows his heart. This man is looking for justification by his works. What he finds is Jesus offering clarification and truth about his motives. Jesus tells the man that God alone is good. Then He lists commandments tied to obedience: “Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.”
At this, the man is encouraged! “Teacher, all these I have kept since I was a boy.” He’s good at these to-do lists!
Scripture then says, “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” Jesus challenges him with these words: “One thing you lack. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come. Follow Me.”
Jesus looks into the man’s soul and identifies the one thing controlling this man’s life, and it’s not love for God. It’s stuff. Jesus loves this man, and He’s trying to deter him from investing his life in earthly treasures when an eternity with God is what will truly satisfy him. Jesus speaks the hard truth – a truth so painful the man walks away “sad, because he had great wealth.”
Knowing this man’s first allegiance, Jesus – God! – still chooses to love him. This man wants it all. Jesus offers an “either/or,” and with hands full of earthly treasures and a heart devoid of hope, the man turns and goes the other direction.
Brothers and sisters, let’s model our interactions with others after the Master’s example. Let’s listen to their words, read their faces, and be attentive to what their words don’t say. Let’s look into their eyes, their souls, and all that’s unspoken. And let’s love them with the truth that will bring them life – whether that’s words of hope, encouragement, conviction, warning, or affirmation. If we don’t truly listen and look at the friends around us, we won’t be properly equipped to love them as Jesus does.
If you, like me, struggle to be attentive during conversations, please join me in praying that God’s Holy Spirit will transform us as we depend on Him for the grace we need to listen, look, and love like Jesus.
