Previous Challenge Entry (Level 1 – Beginner)
Topic: Gone Fishing (02/01/07)
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TITLE: Reely Listening | Previous Challenge Entry
By James Heitger
02/05/07 -
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During the summer, which, according to Luke, is any time of year above 60 degrees, we are at Grandpa's house at least 4 days a week. If you are looking for my dad or Luke, the first place to check is down by the pond. They spend hours there just casting their lines and waiting. They don't catch much. Luke doesn't get a hook yet so he doesn't catch anything at all, though he does get to reel Grandpa's fish in most of the time. Occasionally, they keep a couple to eat that night but it's mostly catch and release. They do more talking than catching.
They talk about simple things like the water, what Luke ate that day, or if they will start a fire later. Luke, vibrant and full of life, does most of the talking. He loves to talk, and Grandpa is a good listener. Luke is full of ideas. He is constantly changing plans for the evening and he tells grandpa each new plan. They'll go for a walk in the woods, then have a campfire, then watch a movie, then another walk in the woods...you get the point. Luke reels his line in; his bait is gone.
Grandpa puts his rod down, ties more bait to Luke's string and helps him cast his line back out. He picks up his rod and Luke continues to talk about the day. As I watch I realize something, even though I'm "grown" I can still learn a few things from my Dad. I watch for a while, my dad listens and listens, he says a few things about the campfire, or a walk in the woods, but mostly he just listens. Luke loves to talk and my father just lets him.
I start to realize, maybe it isn't the fishing that my son loves so much about his time at Grandpa's. My dad, in his grandfatherly patience, just listens to my son. How often do I do that? Do I listen like this when my son speaks? My wife? My Heavenly Father? Do I ever listen like this?
The answer is: no. No, I don't listen like this. I don't wait patiently for anyone. I don't wait or listen at all.
I spend my days at work, and my nights in oblivion. Trudging through life. Waiting on the next show, the next meal, and the next thing to keep me occupied. I don't listen, and my relationships suffer because of it. If I listen to God he'll help me improve my life. If I listen to my wife my house becomes a home. If I listen to my son, I become a dad.
That's what I want to be. I want those titles but I work for titles like boss, or manager. What I want to be and what I'm working on don't seem to match up, but I can change. I can start working towards Dear and Daddy and Son of God, by just listening. By hearing the voices that matter the most I can change my view of my world and myself. No longer trudging but walking together with my family and my God. Life changes when, with God's help, we change it.
It's that simple, ask God to change us for the better and He will. He'll mend our hearts and heal our land. He can bring us to the place where our days are no longer filled with average experience but will amazing events. This is my prayer Lord, make me a listener. Help me listen to You, and the people you've given me. Help me become a follower of you and not just a churchgoer. Help me to become a husband, not just the man she's married to. Help me become a daddy, just like mine. I know God that with your help, I can change my life, and make it great.
My commitment now becomes to live my life with these changes in mind. Working toward a time next summer, when, if someone asks, "Where's Luke?" The reply will be, "He's with his dad, and they've gone fishing"
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