Article June 8, 1968 Issue

Cultivate the Art of Listening

C. EARLE ARMSTRONG

Some years ago the writer heard a professor of speech lecture on the subject of listening. The speaker said he was one of only two "professors of listening" in the entire United States. He made the point that, regardless of one's excellent delivery, mellifluent voice, or important message, all would be of little avail if no one listened. Further, he pointed out that since the human mind can think at five times the rate of normal speech and tends to wander while listening, it is much easier not to listen than to make the effort to do so. His conclusion was that the art of listening must be cultivated assiduously.

Active listening is hard work. It demands concentration and persistent effort. It requires alertness as well as a certain humbleness of thought.

Students of Christian Science should be the best listeners in the world. They early learn that it is imperative to be discriminating listeners, to listen diligently for God's loving guidance, and that the only real communication is always from God to man. If they are to hear the tender message God has for them, they must be spiritually tuned in through prayer.

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