Listen with your heart.

I know you probably think my title is referring to the lyrics of a song made famous by the Swedish pop duo Roxette in 1988 but sadly, I'm not.

I'm referring to a cognitive change that comes from intentional listening and an openness to the work of the Holy Spirit.

Mind tangents.

Over the last ten years, I've become "good" at listening to teenagers and their parents when they speak to me. Unfortunately, this can mean listening for key words and responding with key words, words that I have fashioned over time to be helpful to others. It doesn't happen all of the time, but I can tell when it as happened as soon as the person it has happened to walks away from me.

I get a sense of emptiness and a sometimes even feel ashamed because I'm not sure if I was ever truly present in the conversation that just took place. As she (or he, or they) speak with me my mind can swirl in tangents. Thoughts of the light board having problems, the parent who is waiting for me in the foyer, and my children who haven't seen me yet today.

The way back.

In the fall, during National Youth Worker's Convention, I led a seminar titled, "I made my girlfriend cry: Listening to the burdens of middle schoolers." I wanted to develop the seminar because I noticed our students were really communicating a lot when we gave them opportunities to share how they are doing. If I asked a pointed and sometimes personal question, most are always willing to write down whatever it is that I've asked them to share. The collection of their voices and hearts always brings me to a place of empathy and compassion. It opens my eyes again to their specific needs and reminds me of the very special role of influence we have in their lives.

As I was leading the seminar, I was reminded that it's not only in the creative ways we reach out that help us to listen better, but also in actually listening better.

Whoa.

Go figure!

This year, I've tried to be more present when people talk to me. I've gone back to the basics of listening with my eyes, ears, and body language. When I feel myself glazing over--for whatever reason--I've already prayed for God to help me notice quickly and find my way back into the conversation.

Occasionally, I'm reminded by others who love me and know me well that I need to come back to the planet. I appreciate those honest and life giving voices!

Reminders.

Then there is the Word of God who calls my heart out of hibernation, giving me new eyes and ears daily.
Today--I'm reminded that we are to love each other with genuine affection--taking delight in it! To listen with genuine care can really change the course someones day.

Romans 12:10 NLT
Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other.

1 John 3:11 NLT
This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

A post on a leadership blog I read this morning reverberated the echo: "Listen with your heart. Be aware of how much you're talking."

It's really cool that God is working in us and through us, moment by moment. I hope that others will be able to say of me that I listened and listened well.

Victoria’s Secret Model Quits to Reserve Body ‘for My Husband’

Victoria’s Secret Model Quits to Reserve Body ‘for My Husband’: One Victoria’s Secret angel might be turning her back on lingerie modeling but she’s not giving up her modeling wings. Model Kylie Bisutti, 21, has decided to leave Victoria’s Secret because it clashes with her Christian beliefs. “...

From the age of 19-21, Kylie's faith evolved to a point where she could make a decision like this. Motivation to encourage ministry to teenagers beyond high school graduation...yes.

I work out.

It's hard to hear that line...."I work out"...and not be reminded of a song made familiar by LMFAO.

I'll hear it at the gym, in a car driving by, in Denny's at three a.m. (I highly recommend the grits, especially if you're in lock-in mode and you've escaped for a few minutes to get recharged). LMFAO is an American electro pop duo consisting of rappers, producers, dancers, and DJs.

In case you weren't aware, LMFAO's name comes from internet/sms slang language, words that don't need to be repeated and are beside the point so I'll just leave it at that.

Now for the reason for this post. As I was reading this morning, I was freed of some self inflicted guilt.

I really enjoy working out. I get grumpy when I don't get to as often as I like. It's good for your health, helps maintain weight, and gives you more energy. But my motives for working out seem to lean toward the side of self-preservation. And, that has always seemed to me to be a bit, well....selfish.

But, as I was reading, some things occurred to me that I haven't considered--giving additional credence to taking care of and respecting our natural bodies.

1 Corinthians 15:45-49

So it is written: “The first Adam became a living being” ; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual.The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven.As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.

Now consider this thought-provoking observation from C.S. Lewis (Mere Christianity)

"Christianity is almost the only one of the great religions which thoroughly approves of the body--which believes that matter is good, that God Himself once took on a human body, that some kind of body is going to be given to us in Heaven and is going to be an essential part of our happiness, our beauty, and our energy.

When God formed the mountains, dipped his fingers into the newly created ocean, sifted the sands, brought forth wild and tame, and breathed life into humans, God called it good.

What we're working with here, including our bodies, were created good. To take care of the body and every created thing is to care for that which God called good.

I work out. I enjoy it. It connects us with the Creator who made our hearts able to do things we never dreamt of doing. I hope to keep this in perspective as I move forward. To better understand the relationship between the physical and the spiritual. To dwell in Christ who understands both fully and gives us hope to be restored fully.

To know that "some kind of body is going to be an essential part of our happiness, our beauty, and our energy" is a really cool thing. I definitely want to keep studying the Scriptures to see this echoed in other places.

"Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and will be will changed." (1 Cor. 15:51-52)