Practice Listening 101

       With pleasure I accepted a new challenge with the Clay County Times-Democrat. The editor asked if I'd like to try my hand at reporting on school board meetings and city council meetings. "Sure," I said. "Anything to help out." The editor said he'd proof my reports and give me tips on wording, etc. I love to learn new things (not electricity or construction), so I ventured into new water. I smiled at one chairman's remark when I entered the conference room, "We are pleased to welcome a member of the Press."  "Hmmm," I thought, "That's me!"
      As the articles must be written in a different style, I learned quickly how to phrase the reports to give the facts in a readable style but without emotional words. That's part of the pleasure of writing: choosing the one right word to covey the action without "saying too much."
     Yesterday, I had a revelation.
     This new assignment is about more than learning a new writing style. It's about learning to listen.
     The assignment revives my note-taking skills, allows me to revisit sitting, listening, and writing down what is being said by others.
      I've decided that God is using this writing assignment for another lesson. "God gave us one mouth and two ears," I've heard stated.
     

New learning for me: Keep Your Mouth Closed-101.
      Imagine me sitting in on a school board meeting for over an hour, listening and writing about school policy, financial decisions, staffing, on-line course offerings, and keeping my mouth shut. Oh, how I want to share in their discussion. But, I can't. That's not why I am there. I'm there to listen and report.
      I have no experience in city government, so I give close attention to how the councils conduct business, what is important to them, what they struggle to solve. I do not raise my hand to be recognized, to share in the discussion. I'm an audience member, a reporter, and I am biting the inside of my mouth. I am there to listen and report.
     What a wonderful exercise in self-control.
     What an opportunity to practice listening without responding.