The Gift of Listening
Overview
To listen to another person is to offer a gift.
To listen with caring to another person is to offer a gift of awareness.
To listen with acceptance to all facets of another person is to offer a gift of healing.
To listen with patience for new ways to see the past events of another person is to offer a gift of freedom.
To listen with reverence for new becomings emerging within another person is to offer a gift of grace.
Such are the gifts of listening as Robert Brizee portrays them in this provocative book. The author draws on the biblical notion of God as Abba, insights from process relational theology, and his extensive experience in pastoral psychology in developing a very practical "theology of listening." He illustrates his approach by weaving stories of an imaginary family and a hypothetical congregation to show how the church's unique ministry of listening can come alive.
Top Highlights
“When we listen to another, a relationship between God and that person is present, often hovering in the distant background of awareness, but present. We listen to enhance that relationship.” (Page 9)
“I listen to facilitate a process of awareness of God’s presence and God’s creative activity in another’s life.” (Page 14)
“As a listener I will be attentive to the two pulls: the call and the temptation.” (Page 13)
“The listener does not set the goals for the other; they emerge from the person. The listener does not gain directly from what the person concludes; the other celebrates the gain. There is no coercion from the listener; freedom belongs to the speaker. Again, listening is a gift!” (Page 14)
“Several words that may help to describe caring are: patient, gentle, interested, curious, expectant, and receptive.” (Page 25)
Product Details
- Title: The Gift of Listening
- Author: Robert Brizee
- Publisher: Chalice Press
- Publication Date: 1993
