"The first service that one owes to others ... (is) Listening to - TopicsExpress



          

"The first service that one owes to others ... (is) Listening to them ... Christians, especially ministers, so often think they must always contribute something when they are in the company of others, that this is the one service they have to render. They forget that listening can be a greater service than speaking ... Many people are looking for an ear that will listen. They do not find it among Christians, because these Christians are talking when they should be listening ... This is the beginning of the death of the spiritual life, and in the end there is nothing left buy 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/she be not conscious of it." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together, pgs. 97-98) Thoughts?
Posted on: Sat, 17 Aug 2013 22:41:40 +0000

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