The Bible has to be the most amazing book in the world. It’s by far the most sold, most read, and yes, the most misunderstood. As I have journeyed through life, my understanding(s) of the Bible have changed. I have basically gone from thinking I had all the ANSWERS to realizing I have more QUESTIONS than ever before. The more I study, by the Spirit, the less I know, but the more exciting life becomes.
God birthed this work called LRC in a totally unexpected way. For the first three years I spent most of my life in counseling (25%) and deliverance (75%) ministry. Little did I know what the Spirit was doing in and through me in those days. It had to be Him because I had no experience in either. As I look back I now see what God was preparing me for.
Redemptive LISTENING!
Too many counselors are trained to give ANSWERS.
Dr. John Gray made a lot of money with his best-selling book, but few will remember one of the most important points that he made. Men want to FIX PROBLEMS. Women want to be UNDERSTOOD. Big difference. Men are DOERS. We’d rather get up midway in a conversation and FIX SOMETHING, rather than SIT and LISTEN to all the details. In many cases, the wife, woman, doesn’t want anything fixed, she just wants him (us) to HEAR. The ego doesn’t know how to handle this. The ego feels it must DO SOMETHING.
If we’re honest with ourselves, what we want more than anything in life is to have people around us who UNDERSTAND: more empathy than sympathy.
Can we sit and just hold-receive another’s story?
Richard Rohr makes a lot of sense as he writes, “When we are understood, when we feel another person really cares, it’s surprising how the problem, for the most part, can fade. we don’t need the answer any more.” If there is a palce where this really works, it’s when visiting someone who is ill, maybe dying. They just need our presence. Listen, there are no solutions, no answers for many things that happen in life. But, to be PRESENT, to journey (even sit) along side, is the greatest of compassionate acts.
Who are you making the trip of life WITH?
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