Can you hear me now?
It doesn’t matter whether you’re in a meeting or a public restroom these days, cell phones seem to go off like Geiger counters in a nuclear power plant.
In a world where the latest technological advances allow us to communicate with one another almost anytime and anywhere, questions about the depth, value, and satisfaction of these ever present connections linger.
Do you feel listened to, heard, or recognized? Do you feel like important people in your life really know you and you them? Do you know how those close to you really feel? Your aspirations or concerns? When was the last time you really listened to someone or they to you–fully present and without judgment?
No cell phone plan, e-mail account, web connection, or Tweet can facilitate one human being deeply listening to another. That is up to us.
It is easy to impose our own beliefs, projections, and desires on others or indulge ourselves in impatience or distractions. Whether it’s a feeling of wanting to be elsewhere, boredom, indifference, self involvement, wanting to be right, or another distraction, it pulls us away from the moment, the connection. “Can you hear me now?” takes on a whole new meaning!
If, as theologian, Paul Tillich said, “The first duty of love is to listen,” then we know what we need to do. For the next few weeks, make a pledge to practice listening, deeply and fully. As culture and communication changes, “listening” may too. Try the Deep Listening practice in the Practices section of our site as a place to start.
Submitted by: Roselle Kovitz
August 5th, 2009 at 6:18 am
A friend recently commented on walking through the lovely University campus where she works and everyone she encountered had their cell phone to their ear. Eventually she crossed paths with a gardener and he asked her to come and smell a flower. It brightened her day and she felt connected again. Why do these moments seem so rare and fleeting these days?