“And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.”
2 Corinthians 5:18 NLT
This week I have been bombarded with messages about healthy communication or the lack of it. For example, during a message given by Dr. Ben Carson, he asked, “What happens before divorce?” In other words, what leads up to it? The good doctor said, “People stop talking to each other.”*
Now the missteps leading to divorce may not be that simple, but his point is well taken.
Here is another example: “Listening to each other is the only path to the future…We are being pushed to be separate.”** These quotes got me to thinking about what happens when we stop talking to each other. One person described it this way:
“We withdraw our spirits.”*** This insight was a shock to me, because I suddenly recognized the thousands of times I have done this in relationships. Of course, there are times when silence is needed and is the better part of wisdom (Eccl. 3:7).
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
- What do you think about Glenn Beck’s statement, “Listening to each other is the only path to the future”?
- How would you feel if a friend, co-worker, or someone close to you stopped talking to you over a period of days or weeks? How would you respond?
- What do you think is the path back to a healthy relationship that is faltering?
Thanks for listening and responding! –PatM
* Dr. Ben Carson, World Outreach Church: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM9Snm9TNjY
** Glenn Beck on an interview with Piers Morgan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jv0gvUk-fI
***Pastor Bill Jastram, Tigard, Oregon
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