Listening vs. Hearing: The Sacred Act of Being Present

In the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, we’re often surrounded by noise—traffic humming, phones ringing and/or vibrating, social media, endless commercials, podcasts podding, music musicing, kids kidding, work working, family family’ing, and conversations conversing. It’s easy to hear everything and listen to nothing, or to choose to hear selectively. Hearing is effortless. It’s what happens when sound waves touch our eardrums. But listening, truly listening, active listening, is a sacred act that requires us to be present, intentional, open, and willing.

Hearing: The Background Noise of Life

Hearing is passive. It’s the music playing softly in the background, the distant chatter of people in the next room, the sound of rain hitting the window as we drift off to sleep. It’s the unintentional act of sound simply existing around us, of simply being where noise is made, as sound brushes by our awareness though it may not necessarily demand our attention. We hear because we’re alive, because sound waves touch our ears. But in the chaos of hearing, we often miss the beauty and depth of truly connecting with the voices that matter. Conversely…

Listening: The Art of Being Present

Listening is more than the words washing over us. Listening is about diving deeply into the ocean of another’s expression, whether it’s a loved one’s heartfelt story or the quiet whisper of our own inner voice. Listening is active, it’s intentional. It’s choosing to lean in, to quiet the other noise– externally, and in our minds– to hone in on the one noise that matters. Active listening is love in action! It’s giving the gift of our presence. It’s safely and securely catching the words, the emotions, the pauses, and the unspoken truths that lie beneath the surface.

When we listen, we honor the speaker. We tell them, “I see you, I hear you, I value what you’re sharing.” It’s an act of grace, a small yet powerful way to show love and respect. It’s the difference between hearing the cries of a friend and wanting to understand the weight behind them. Listening is a sacred exchange of energy, a moment where walls begin to fall, smiles widen, and hearts open.

The Divine Power of Listening in the Silence of Stillness

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:10 NIV (more translations)

There’s profound power in listening to the silence of stillness. In the quiet, when all the external noise fades away, or, perhaps far more accurately, when we choose to surrender them and they fade away, we can hear the gentle whispers of our own soul, the guidance of the Divine, and the Truth that so often goes unnoticed in the rush of daily life. Stillness invites us to pause, to breathe, and to actively listen deeply—not to others, but to ourselves and the Divine presence within us.

When we choose to listen in these sacred, silent, still moments, we find clarity, peace, and the answers that are drowned out by the clamor of the world. Much like when I’m at a live concert, I don’t hear my phone ring over the booms of reggae overwhelming me, I can’t hear God’s gentle whisper in the chaos of life. Listening in stillness allows us to reconnect with our innermost desires, our fears, and our hopes. Our God! It’s where we find God’s gentle nudge, reminding us of who we are and where we are meant to be. It’s where we encounter and empower ourselves with the courage to face our fears, the Love to love our ourselves, and to love our neighbors as ourselves, and the grace to embrace our light.

As children of the Most High, we are called to listen with the ears of our hearts, to tune into the divine whispers that guide our paths, and to be fully present in every interaction. And the most amazing part about it is it can– and ought to!– happen anytime and everywhere. At work, while washing dishes or cleaning, the brief pause before waiting for someone to answer the phone, a tender moment with a loved one, or while praying, listening is our way of honoring God, honoring ourselves, and honoring others. It’s a way of saying, “You are worthy of my time, my attention, my care, my love.”

Embracing the Gift of True Listening

Let us strive to be listeners in a world full of noise. Let us be intentional with our presence, for in those moments of true listening, we find the beauty of connection, the joy of understanding, and the grace of being fully seen and heard.

So, let’s take a deep breath, quiet the mind, and listen—not just with our ears, but with our hearts wide open. Because in the end, the difference between hearing and listening is the difference between just existing and truly living. The difference between thriving and surviving. And in the sacred silence of stillness, we find the divine connection that anchors us in Love, Peace, Wisdom, and Truth.

A Prayer of Stillness and Knowing

God, we come before You in this moment of stillness, yearning to be present and to hear you, and to truly listen to You. Your Word calls us to “be still and know that I am God,” and in the quiet of our hearts, we seek that knowing. We seek what You would have us know. Reveal to us what we need. Reveal to us Your will. Help us to quiet the noise around us and within us, to silence the distractions, the doubts, the fears, and all else that separates us from You so we may hear, see, and experience You clearly and fully as You work gently and deeply within us.

Lord, teach us to be excellent listeners, to hear not just the words but the hearts of those who speak. Grant us the grace to be fully present, to honor the sacredness of each connection, and to give us eyes that see and ears that hear. May we find You in the silence, in the gentle whispers of truth that come when we are still.

In our stillness, may we know Your peace, Your guidance, and Your unfailing love. Thank you that we are never alone, but always deeply connected to Your divine presence. Help us to trust in the quiet, to lean into and frequently create the moments of sacred silence, and to embrace the gift of simply being. Help us remember that while striving for more, who we are now in this very moment is good.

May our listening be a reflection of Your love and our stillness a testament of our trust in You. And in all things, may we remember that in the quiet, we are held, known, and loved by You, the Most High.

“Selah [pause, and calmly think of that].” and Amen (and so be it).