Wednesday; March 4

I am not sure where it all got started, but have you noticed how noisy the world has gotten?  I am not talking about the jets that fly over our landscape or even the trains that rumble through out cities – I am talking about our discussions – or should I say our arguments.  Whether it is people confronting one another on the sports channels, candidates trying to out-shout each other in a debate or people arguing with each other on social media, it appears that jousting has replaced discussion.  Rather than using horses and spears in the battle arenas we are using microphones, keyboards and words.
I don’t mind differences of opinions (that’s what has the ability to make us all better), what troubles me is that there are a lot of opinions, but very little exchange of information.  We are more than willing to shout our thoughts, but we are apt to shut down when it is someone else’s turn to talk.  In essence, it is an opinion push, rather than information exchange.  While it would be simple to blame this on modern society, the truth of the matter is that this has been around for a long time.  In fact, wise King Solomon saw it during his day when we noted, “A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own mind.”  (Proverbs 18:2).
Let’s be willing to engage each other in discussion.  Let’s not back down from an opportunity to express our beliefs, but we must also be willing to listen to another’s insight.  No, that doesn’t just mean sitting quietly while it is their turn to talk, it means honestly focusing in on what others say and listening for a chance to learn something from them.  Remember, unless we are willing to listen and learn, we will never advance further than we are right now.  I don’t know about you, but I have a long way to go to get to where I really want to be.
         Think About It!

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