Initially, I really thought about this concept a lot when I was living overseas in Korea. This was a year of really learning more about who I was, who I wanted to be and how to trust God in the process. At that time in my life, the way it applied was attempting to understand what it meant to seize the day and make the most of every opportunity, not letting one minute go to waste. I have to admit this is a really broad interpretation also making it somewhat overwhelming. If we were honest, most of us would say this is something we strive for-living in the moment and passionately drinking in every second of life that we can. Admittedly, most of us can also say that we don't. Not 100% of the time. We have a bad day and in response we allow ourselves to think that everything is going wrong rather than counting our blessings. But we're striving for this noble goal, and that's good, right?
As I was going through my grad school program for counseling, there was a skill I really had to work on because it didn't come very naturally to me. Active listening. It's ironic, because many people have told me that I'm a 'good listener'. Isn't that sort of typical? Many people, if you ask them what their strengths are, will say 'I'm a good listener.' It's an easy answer, and it's an easy thing to fake. It just involves physically being there, making eye contact and nodding. The person sharing has no clue if the 'good listener' is thinking about what they're going to eat for dinner. People are drawn to me and feel like they can share their problems with me because I listen (e.g. don't walk away, interrupt or try to dominate the conversation). Seriously, the other day I went to pick up a to-go order at McAlister's and the lady who checked me out began pouring her heart out to me about a struggle she was having in a relationship. So this skill of active listening is pertinent for a counselor and I've had to learn. I have to really focus on what a person is saying without thinking about and planning what I want to say in response. I have to listen, not just to their words, but to their feelings behind the words. Being a 'good listener' is much more involved than we sometimes realize and can require hard work that goes against what comes naturally. But it is necessary in order to be all there.
Lately, this quote has applied to my life in the area of electronics, cell phones in particular. My family does it, my friends do it and I do it all the time. I sacrifice sweet time with loved ones to play a game, read about someone else on Facebook or text someone who isn't present and neglect being in the room. I forfeit good communication and fellowship to settle for mediocre entertainment. I have been so convicted about this. I've convinced my husband to take a day off with me from electronics of all kinds-we turned our phones off, didn't turn the TV on and took a break. We did it one day and hardly made it! And we haven't done it since. What will it take, I wonder, for me to see what is truly needed and embrace it?
When it comes down to it, Luke 10:38-42 tells me that only one thing is necessary...that's to sit at Jesus's feet. When that is ultimate in my life and supersedes iPhones, TV shows, and social connectedness, then I'm doing alright. But it can't be something that I say is most important, it has to be evident in how I spend my time. The full quote that Jim Elliot wrote in his journal says "Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation that you believe to be the will of God."
Wow! Nicely said. I was immediately struck (convicted) when I read that quote.
ReplyDelete