“Listen very carefully, I shall say this only once.” I can almost hear Michelle Dubois’ voice in my head. English with a quite strong French accent. A simple quote from the series “Allo’ allo!”

I remember working as a tour guide I tried to practice this. Guiding grownups I couldn’t be bothered to tell people the same things over and over again. I thought they should pay attention. And they did. I very seldom experienced people being late for the bus. There are always people coming late, but they will be late whether they know the time or not.

In teaching about communication you will always be confronted with the term listening; learn to be a good listener! It is all about listening. Do you really hear what your friend is telling you? Do you understand the words of your spouse? Maybe you are not listening. Have you been listening?

I love good stories. I have friends that really know how to tell stories. The point might be lame, but the story is be good just by the way it’s told. Listening to something like that is not difficult. It’s just a matter of shutting up. But getting a deeper meaning is something else. To hear something that is not audibly heard.

The other day I was sitting in a meeting listening to a preacher. I was concentrating so hard to get her message that my neighbor who I have never met before leant over and asked; ‘Are you OK? Sure?’ I probably looked very serious. The person I was listening to was a good communicator, but I knew she had a point in there I shouldn’t miss. So I listened. Very carefully.

Jesus said;
«My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.»

Listen carefully