I have, for the past 2 days, participated in a "Theological Consultation on the Vocation of Leadership" at the ELCA offices in Chicago. The room was filled with 30 or so professors of theology, bishops and other important and super smart people...and me. How it is that I always end up invited to these meetings is a mystery to me as I'm often the only person without a fancy title or two in front of their name. Anyhow, I enjoyed the conversation and left with the conviction that I need to become a better listener. I'm a great talker, I mean seriously, I can talk. What I'm lousy at is being an authentically good listener. I can discipline myself to listen well, but I'm not a good listener REALLY. I can only assume this is due to a lack of humility and an excess of self-absorbtion. Some day I would love to listen to someone without waiting the whole time to give my clever response. I want to become the kind of person who is genuinely curious about what others think, not just able to diplomatically let others have their say, before I get to talk again.
A prayer:
Dear God,
Forgive me for thinking I'm so much more interresting than other people. Seriously. We both know it's not the case. Help me to shut the hell up so that I can hear your wisdom in the voices of my fellows.
In Jesus' name,
AMEN
If you're the sort of person who has to dominate the conversation, just tell everybody before the meeting that you suffer from a bi-polar disorder (that is the result of some incident in the past you can't talk about) which really embarrasses you but there's nothing you can do about it. This turns the inevitable disdain of the others at the meeting into profound sympathy and you can get away with talking as much as you like. (bursting into tears for no evident reason in the middle of the meeting helps no end).
Well, it works for me.
Posted by: MadPriest | September 24, 2006 at 11:09 AM
Your post is a conviction. I'll repeat your prayer.
Posted by: CoG | September 24, 2006 at 07:44 PM
Mad Priest,
You're a genius.
SL
Posted by: Nadia | September 25, 2006 at 06:57 AM
been there - for sure. thanks for the prayer, as usual, so awesome.
Posted by: Swandive | September 26, 2006 at 03:18 PM
You're such a Lutheran...
Posted by: towanda | September 26, 2006 at 06:29 PM