Listening to Others

My friend Daisy once reminded me of a story of a little church up in the mountains located so far out in a hollow that for many years there was no electricity. Finally, electricity came to their area. At one of the church board meetings someone stood and said, “I make a motion that our church buy a chandelier.”

Now every church must have at least one “I’m against it” person. (This is to keep the others from making decisions too hastily!) The “I’m against it” elder stood up and said, “After thinking long and hard about this situation, I’ve come up with three reasons why we should forget about buying a chandelier. Ain’t nobody here can spell it. Ain’t nobody in this church knows how to play it. And besides, we need lights.”

The story is funny. But the truth is, often we do need to hear the alternative point of view – even when it comes across poorly. It’s not that we have to agree with it, we don’t. But often in life, we grow most deeply when we come to understand both sides of an issue. More importantly, as Christians, we are called to love even those people with whom we disagree. And, it is hard to love people when we haven’t even listened to them. 

We live in a time when our country and even our churches are polarized on any number of issues. I pray today that you would listen to and love even those with whom you disagree.

Let us pray: Loving God, help us always to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Give us hearts to love in spite of our differences. As we do, meet us in that place and may we notice your healing in our own relationships. Grant us the ability to be instruments of your healing and of your peace. Amen.