Stop talking...start listening.

So interestingly several passages of scripture have been in the mix lately. Anytime, I hear the same passage or at least one with the same message in close proximity my ears perk up and I think..."Okay, God I know you are trying to say something!" Lately here are a few of the passages that have crossed my path: 1- Fools multiply words 2- Be still and know that I am God 3- One of the first steps you can take in improving your communication is stop talking and start listening! Hmmmm...I realized that I do a lot of talking. I already knew this about myself, Haha! I love to talk and I feel very uncomfortable with those awkward lulls of silence that happen when two people don't know each other that well. I have recently been in a couple of groups where I don't know hardly anyone and I find myself blah blah blabbing on and on about absolutely nothing. I find that this is a skill I have honed over many years...The ability to talk to a wall for hours and keep myself entertained. But these few phrases got me thinking, "What am I missing out on by not listening more?" I tried it out at a youth gathering last night, which I realize may have not been the ideal starting point (Teenagers don't exactly jump at the chance to talk about their lives, especially if they don't know you AND you are an adult). Regardless, I did hear some pretty compelling stories about heartache, pain, and amazing aspirations to achieve great things. It was nothing short of miraculous that I got to chat with them about their dreams, their daily life, and some of the dreadful things they were going through. Speechlessness is not a trait I often have, but I didn't really know how to respond so I stayed silent. Could this be the beginning of a life of quiet solitude? Probably not, but at least I realize I can and should keep my mouth shut more often :)