Article June 10, 1985 Issue

Are you listening?

MAYNARD SUNDT

Most of us can remember our parents asking us, as children, "Are you listening?" They knew that children do not always lend a listening ear. As we matured, our ability to listen improved to the point where all of us undoubtedly considered ourselves good listeners. We found the key to good listening to be the desire to learn, coupled with the recognition that listening pays off in benefits.

What does listening have to do with our understanding and utilization of the truths of Christian Science? Listening is an essential factor in obtaining and expanding spiritual understanding. For example, one can do a great deal of reading of the Bible and of Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, and still not derive much understanding, if he is not striving to listen to and ponder the truths that are being read.

The definition of "ears" in Science and Health is most interesting and revealing. It reads, "Not organs of the so-called corporeal senses, but spiritual understanding...."^{Science and Health, p. 585.} From this one can infer that in order to truly hear, he must gain spiritual understanding, and in order to increase spiritual understanding, he must truly listen.

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