Listen

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

For years I was shy in groups. Never wanting to hear my own voice. Theater changed that. On a whim, my mom voluntold me for summer camp where they put on a musical. I loved to dance and loved music so she thought this would ease my summer boredom.

It changed my life.

I slowly began to realize that sometimes people want to hear you. They want to be entertained or enlightened and sometimes both.

So my journey to speak began. And it grew. 

I began to audition for other shows and found joy in entertaining. 

Eventually I realized that my ability to speak could move beyond the stage – that it was important to discuss and pose questions in class. At first I was one of those students who got less than an A in class participation because I didn’t speak up enough.

Finally I evolved into the student who talks over people in order to get the word in. I really don’t like that person but it did get the A in participation points.

But now as I continue on my journey of voice, I realize that people want to hear me speak a word of wisdom. And in order to do so, I need to listen.

I’ve spend long enough choosing carefully phrased pithy statements. Now I must find the balance between listening and speaking.

I pray that my ears have finely tuned their filter so that I may dig through all the noise and hear what is important.

Perhaps now that I can speak and am ready to listen, God will show me what is truly “praiseworthy.”

Until Everyone Hears (including myself),