Listening like Google …

I’ve found Google’s attempt to make its search feature be more intuitive to be annoying rather than beneficial.

Just type in a single letter and immediately the feature tries to “guess” what you’re about to type, suggesting numerous possibilities. Most of the guesses are wrong, at least initially. You have to nearly complete what you would type in before the intuitive feature becomes very accurate. In that case, there’s no need for a not-so-intuitive feature!

A lot of people listen like Google …

… you barely speak a few words and they think they know what you’re about to say. They instantly generate their thoughts and emotions on their intuition of what you haven’t yet finished stating, and often cut in to give their view of what they think you’re trying to say.

That’s not listening.

We do the same thing with God. We get hints of what we think the Bible says, without actually reading it (especially in context) to “listen” to God, and our intuition kicks in. Usually very inaccurately. That’s why Jesus, on more than one occasion, prefaced or ended what He said with these words:

“Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!” Matthew 11:15.

We all have ears, but we don’t always use them for listening, much less to achieve understanding.

Just because someone is speaking doesn’t mean he is being listened to. Listening does not occur naturally but is the result of a conscious choice. People can also make the conscious decision not to listen. Most of us decide to “guess,” to attempt an intuitive understanding from which we formulate responses instead of focusing in on someone to really listen them.

The result is what we often take as truth is, in fact, flawed with error. Responding to anyone with error-riddled “information” usually makes us wrong, and weakens the relationship.

That’s why Jesus’ exhortation is a simple guide to becoming better listeners:

• Don’t just hear, but choose to listen. That means you’re not talking, you’re listening.
• Listen for understanding. That means you focus in on the one who is speaking, actively taking in what they are saying instead of thinking about your opinion of what they’re saying while they are speaking. When the other person has finished speaking, you can clarify your understanding by asking questions. And once you have gained understanding by listening, you’re then equipped to respond knowledgeably.

Do you listen close enough to gain understanding? Or do you listen like Google?

Scotty