Listening to Ike

Ike is an interesting character.  He is incredibly talkative but really won't talk if there are other people talking.  He won't fight for conversational terrritory.  It's not really shyness, politeness or fear.  His behavior seems simply natural for him.  He didn't really talk well until he was four and then sometimes it was like pulling teeth.  He was such a cute little kid with big eyes - if he just paused for a moment, someone would finish his sentence for him or answer the question he was asked.

While we were in Wyoming and watching mountains instead of TV, Issac talked and talked.  One day, while everyone was gone to Yellowstone, we took a long walk up a mountain.  He talked about flowers, grass, the sky, his friends, hiking and asked thousands of questions.  For some people it might have been a burden but I loved listening and answering.  Quite frankly, I never wanted the hike to end.  I kept answering and I listened with a huge smile on my face.  Everything he asked was not critical and everything he stated was not exactly correct.  I kept my corrections and words to a minimum and we talked long and slow - a bit at a time.

It is easy to listen to those who "talk to us".  It is easy to miss those that simply don't feel the need to claim conversational territory.  It is easy and necessary for us to listen in the "critical times." It is easy for us to "talk to the talkers" and to miss "talking to the listeners."  It is so easy for us to get busy with the details of normal Christian leadership that we don't "go for walks" with those we lead. Because of this, we often miss the beauty of the lives and thoughts of those same people.  James said, "quick to listen, slow to speak..." and I think it was probably good advice for us as leaders - we are just naturally "limelight people."

God loves listening and answering.  He is thrilled when we go on long walks with Him.  He loves it not because of the attention he is getting in conversation but because - like me with Ike - He really likes us and likes to hear us.  We need to lead this truth and teach this truth.  People need to go on leisurely, non-critical walks with our Father.  We need to be more like God and walk with the people.  Remember, being a leader is not something you do - it is something you are. 

God was already a leader.  He died to have a relationship with us -not to lead us.  A leaders sacrifice should result in relationships as well.