February 16, 2013

                                                  TWO EARS

     “God gave you two ears and one mouth so you can listen twice as much as you talk,” said the creepy church lady who smelled like oatmeal. She leaned toward me, starring me down with eyes that bugged from their sockets and said, “God loves a good listener and if you pay attention, you might learn somthin others missed cause they were too busy talkin.”

     I have to say, the woman made an impression on me and I thought about what she said, hearing her voice ring in my mind while I blathered on about nothing. It didn’t however keep me from talking to anyone who’d listen nor was I able to heed her advice for a very long time.

      I think about her now when I’m listening to someone go on and on wishing they’d just make their point or when I rudely interrupt because I want to make mine. Two ears, I tell myself, two ears! Because what I’ve come to learn is that the oatmeal lady was right, if I listen twice as much as I talk, I do learn something.

     Another thing about two ears is that sometimes people really need a listener, another person who really hears them, and then something special transpires between the giver and the receiver. It’s a unique connection that only comes from letting someone talk, and their understanding that you heard them, thereby witnessing their strife or love or epic event and that they’re not alone.

     And for me the best part is that when you listen, you discover the very core of a person and you become part of that and you are made sweeter somehow, richer than you were before and a part of you blossom’s in the acknowledgment of who they are and who you are together. And if you’re really lucky and you hang on, you uncover something about yourself and it’s a surprise gift that you didn’t expect so it becomes a treasure to truly behold.  Two ears, I tell myself, two ears.