Key Bible Verse: Ears to hear and eyes to see—both are gifts from the Lord (Proverbs 20:12). Bonus Reading: Mark 8:22-25

Silence, properly cultivated, prepares us for an attentiveness that goes beyond merely noticing details. It starts us on a path of perceptivity to the deeper, often-hidden realities of our friends, children, audiences, and even life itself.

Learn to see by gaining knowledge that will enable you to see more. A boy who has no knowledge of forests will likely "see" nothing on a mountainside except "a bunch of trees." With a little study, though, suddenly every pine, cedar, and dogwood grows distinct. Now, he can't help but see them. The same is true as we learn the family, culture, or life story of an individual. Whether gained through books, classes, or conversations, new learning increases our ability to see.

Express what you observe. Annie Dillard writes, "Seeing is of course very much a matter of verbalization. Unless I call my attention to what passes before my eyes, I simply won't see it." The practice of articulating things we've noticed—thanking a waitress's manager for her effort, mentioning a talent you perceive in a friend, or remarking on the smile of a supermarket clerk—makes this thing more real for us, and also gives gifts to others.

—Jedd Medefind & Erik Lokkesmoe in The Revolutionary Communicator

My Response: To begin hearing what's said between the words, I'll …

Thought to Apply: You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view—until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.—HARPER LEE

Adapted from The Revolutionary Communicator (Relevant Books, 2004) by permission.

Prayer for the Week

Lord, help me cultivate inner silence to hear Your voice—and what others are trying to tell me.

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