Take Heed How You Hear
The words in the title are, of course, used by our Lord (Luke 8:18). When He spoke those words, He was dealing with things that He was teaching.
I’m wondering, though, if those words might be good advice in many areas of our lives. I hope that you will continue to read as I try to explain what I am thinking and as I continue to challenge my thinking.
Some who read these words may have been watching the television program 60 Minutes on the evening of October 15, 2023. I did not watch it. In fact, I rarely have an opportunity to watch it because I choose to use the time when it is broadcast to do something I believe to be much more important. I am either traveling to, traveling from, or already in a worship assembly with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I know that I could record it to watch later, but, to be honest, it really is not all that important to me.
Since that particular program appeared, I have seen portions of it at other times and on other networks. Actually, I have seens “portions of one portion.” Different parts of an interview that Scott Pelley conducted with president Joe Biden have appeared elsewhere.
I found one “portion of that portion” to be interesting. At least it caused me to do some thinking. The part that I have on my mind has nothing to do with any of the questions or any of the answers. Instead it has to do with how Mr. Pelley introduced the interview to the viewers.
I went online to find the transcript so that I would be accurate as I relay this information to you. As a part of the introduction, Mr. Pelley said,
“…Late Thursday, we met President Biden at the White House. It had been a
rough week and we could see it on him. Mr. Biden will be 81 next month…”
How did you read those words? If you were watching on television when the program was on the air or, like me since then, how did you hear those words? Let me suggest that a person’s perception of our president, the press, or both had much to do with how we heard Mr. Pelley’s words.
Because of some opinions and perceptions that are already in place, I’m confident that some who heard or read that statement thought something like:
“When even a member of the liberal press says something like that, he’s basically saying that the president is too old for the job and that our nation may need a new leader.”
Others with different opinions and perceptions could just as easily have thought something like:
“When a fair-minded member of the objective press says something like that, he’s reminding people that the president, in spite of his age, is handling a lot. It may be best to not look elsewhere for a leader.”
Is it not true that the best way to explain the difference in those two statements are the opinions and perceptions that listeners already had before Mr. Pelley said a word? If, indeed, that is the case, as hinted at earlier, I have a new challenge for myself. I’m thinking that the guy who is typing these words needs to try to do his best to listen as clearly and objectively as I can to other people.
What I’m suggesting is that there might be some improvement in communities, churches, businesses, schools, etc. if all of us would “take heed how [we] hear.” In fact, I’m suggesting that even the most intimate of human relationships would be greatly and positively enhanced. If you think I have a legitimate point, maybe you will take that challenge with me.
Maybe we could talk about it. I’ll try to do my best to listen.
AUTHOR: Jim Faughn
