My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen,
slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19
“Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” John 13:14
Lord Jesus, if ever there was a time to take these passages to heart, the summer of 2020 is it. You’ve given us two ears and one mouth, and the anatomical ratio is no mere accident. As the racial equality protests become more peaceful, may our posture become more one of engaged listening, and less of angry launching.
We know what good listening is like as we ponder how you relate to us, Jesus. No one is more quick to listen than you. We never have to snap our fingers to get your attention, or to “reel” you back into focus. We never catch you looking away, as though you’re bored with us.
You never interrupt us. You never spin what we’re saying. You never “over-speak” when we try to tell you something. There’s no one who listens so attentively, respectively, and compassionately as you, Jesus.
We don’t need healing for deafness, but grace for listening deeply. First and foremost, we want to listen to you, Jesus. You’re always speaking to us, by the Spirit through the Word. May we hang onto every syllable of truth, grace, mercy and peace you utter.
In the coming weeks, starting with this one, help us initiate good, unrushed, humility-graced conversations with each other—conversations about racism in which we listen twice as much as we speak.
You never called any of us to a ministry of turning-over-tables; but you clearly commanded us to wash one another’s feet (John 13:1-17). Thank you for washing our hearts, and not just our feet, Jesus. So very Amen, we pray, in the realness and riches of your great name.