Understand This: Living Frank’s Prayer, Part 10 of 14

“O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

…to be understood, as to understand”

It’s basic human anatomy: we have two ears and one mouth for a reason.  We all know that.  But we forget.

A guy named James was blunt. “Let every person be quick to hear and slow to speak” is how James 1:19 puts it.

There was an exhibit a couple of years ago at art museum.  It involved a complicated and confusing video installation.  Sitting in midst of a jumbled stack of about 15 monitors of various sizes and shapes, the viewer heard a handful of people speaking at once.  Some said things like, “But that can’t be at all right,” and “Now let me tell YOU something!” and “You talk, I’ll listen.”

That last phrase has stuck with me.  It’s a good start to what our friend Frank tells us in his prayer.

Let’s try it.  Let’s try it for a couple of days at least.  Listen.  Carefully.  And hear more than words can say.

“You talk, I’ll listen.”