LISTENING
WHO DO WE LISTEN TO?
St. Bernard, with God-given wisdom, once said, “You wish to see? Listen.”
Too often we listen for only what we want to hear. Listening and seeing are two bedrock spiritual foundations upon which our life is built. To whose voice we listen or choose to listen is a key spiritual discipline. Over the years, I’ve chosen to hear from a wide range voices--from my harsh inner critic to anything that would build my ego. Both are detrimental to listening deeply to my own soul’s voice. I can be my harshest critic, which can drive me toward a victim mentality and toward a belief that there is nothing good in me. I can also engage in self-flattery, choosing to ignore and block out honest but life-giving advice and instead park myself in the pool of accolades and praises. A still small voice that is in me (which is often God speaking) is difficult to uncover and decipher. When this still small voice comes, it often comes in a split-second intuitive space, leaving one to wonder where it came from. I’m still learning to catch the still small voice, and the only way to grow is to practice what I hear by putting it into action. More often than not, action will prove whether what I heard was God or my own thinking.
Going beyond our individual listening, who we listen to as cultures, societies, organizations, and churches gives us a real time peek into where we are as collectives.
What’s accepted as normal or ludicrous (or anywhere in between) and thus what we choose to listen to tells more about us than what we believe. What we choose to listen to is a revealing precursor to unformed beliefs that we all have. What we listen to also reveals a great deal about the assumptions that we don’t even know we have. What is at work here is blindness that prevents us from listening, since we have already dismissed the idea or thought as being irrelevant. Assumptions are full of peril if we aren’t aware of what they are, especially because we are governed by them to live our lives.
Thus, discerning whose voices we must listen to is critical for the human spiritual journey. Based on my own life experiences, I’ve learned to give more “air time” to the people below.
>Those voices that are not controlled by money or livelihood. I’ve done this myself. One key question for me over the years has been, “Am I saying this because I’m “paid” to say this?” For those people who are not controlled by money, there is freedom and integrity in what they have to say. It is not to say that these voices are always right. These untethered voices are outside the systems and structures that have been accepted as the norm. In many ways, these voices are the prophetic and apostolic voices we must listen to. As prophets and apostles, they are outside the system and on the edge. We must listen to the “weirdos,” as Rachel Held Evans says. This is also what Walter Brueggemann calls “the voice of marginality.”
>Those voices that embody passions. These are passions that have been proven over time and thus not selfish, self-centered, or skittish. They are passions that have potential to bring good into the world.
>Those voices that are arising from the poor, neglected, and powerless. This point is tied to the first point above. Again, I am not saying that these voices are inherently good or better voices than voices that come from those who have power and control. But if they pass the selfish agenda test, then I will surely lend them my ears. To me, this is also where listening to young people enters in. Their restless idealistic groanings offer much needed indictment to the present and fresh insights into the future.
>Those voices that represent different cultures around the world. These voices must be heard as equals! Assuming that they meet the above 3 criteria, I’ve learned so much from those whose background and culture are very different from mine. The Bible comes alive. I’ve learned about my own culture and how I behave by being around people who are different from me.
>Those voices that have proven to listen to others and listen deeply. Don’t listen to anyone who is not willing to listen and who is ready to pronounce judgement and to “lay down the law.” Do lend your ears to those who have shown humility in listening to others, especially to the marginal voices.
REFLECTION QUESTION
Who and/or what do you listen to? Where does your heart go to listen?