NO BIBLE NO BREAKFAST DAILY BIBLE REFLECTIONS AND MORE

REFLECTION
“We do go on a bit” is the theme for our reflection.  “To go on a bit” is an idiomatic expression used to describe a person who talks too much or incessantly. We do go on a bit means sometimes we talk too much without engaging others in a meaningful conversation and dialogue. We shall reflect on the fact that to go on a bit is part of our human frailties hence we must be discerning and be ready to interact with others in a manner that makes communication impactful.

Beloved in the Lord, Paul demonstrated one of his human frailty when he spoke at length without observing his audience or engaging them in active and hearty conversation. He might have thought he knew a lot and had to teach his audience but his action amounted to incessant talking without any meaningful impact at the material time. It was in the night and It appeared his listeners were bored. One of them even fell asleep and fell through the window of the house. Luke reported that “…Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. ⁸ There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. ⁹ Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. ¹⁰ Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” ¹¹ Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. ¹² The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.” (Acts 20:7-12). One of the weaknesses of preachers and those who are knowledgeable in a subject matter is that they sometimes talk incessantly without observing the body language or demeanour of their audience. There are times we need to also engage in a conversation or dialogue with our audience so that we can also listen to their thoughts on issues of mutual interest. Leaders must not assume that their followers are ignorant or have no knowledge or experience to share with them. We must develop the habit of welcoming intellectual contributions from other people. It may enrich our knowledge and also challenge a position we have hitherto held which needs to be refined.

Teachers also fall into the temptation of incessantly talking to their students without observing their facial expressions or general demeanour. There are times when the students or audience are just bored and tired and need a break or a rest to be refreshed.  Again, some parents fail to engage in meaningful conversation with their children and prefer to talk incessantly without allowing their children to express their emotions or thoughts in a manner that will enable them to be well understood and helped.  We sometimes assume our children are ignorant or know nothing therefore we must put sense into their heads. We must begin to appreciate the fact that this approach will make them metaphorically “fall asleep and fall off” like Eutychus in Act 20:9. It is for this reason Ecclesiastes 3:1,7 reminds us that “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…a time to be silent and a time to speak.” Married couples must learn to listen to one another in their conversation. Husbands must listen to their wives and not project themselves as the repository of knowledge. Wives also have a lot to contribute to the marriage and the success of the family. We compliment one another therefore both husbands and wives must listen to one another. We must learn to be silent after we have spoken at length and allow others to also speak because just as other people have a lot to learn from us, we also have much to learn from them There is an Ewe adage that says knowledge is like a baobab tree, one person cannot wrap his or her arms around it completely. We need many people to collectively surround the big baobab tree to fully capture it. In other words, one person is not a repository of knowledge therefore we must learn to share knowledge by listening to others and accommodating the thoughts of others in our interactions. A one-sided conversation is boring, let us learn to pause or be silent at a point in time and also allow others to have their turn. In our congregations, leaders must learn to engage in constructive and hearty conversations with congregants. Pastors, catechists, elders, and group leaders must not assume that the rest of the congregants are ignorant or have nothing to contribute towards the growth of the church. At our Bible studies, session meetings, church board meetings and congregational meetings, we must sometimes be silent and listen to their contributions and suggestions. One of the greatest weaknesses and temptations of a leader is to assume that he or she knows it all. Successful leaders are people who listen and are humble enough to respect and accommodate the views and contributions of their followers or subordinates. Pharoah listened to Joseph the slave boy and Egypt was saved from famine, (Genesis 41:37-40). Again, Naaman the Commander of Aram listened to his slave girl and received His healing.  (2 Kings 5:1-4). It is a good habit to listen to others and reflect on their thoughts just as we also talk to others and expect them to listen to us. We must pray for the spirit of discernment to know when to talk, listen and act so that our communication with other people will be meaningful and impactful.

In summary, we have reflected on the theme “we do go on a bit”  We have discovered that to go on a bit is part of our human frailities hence we must be discerning and be ready to interact with others in a manner that makes communication impactful.

PRAYER
Holy Spirit, grant us the spirit of discernment and self-control to know when to talk, what to say, how to present it and when to stop and listen to other people. Amen.