Attentiveness = Value

Yesterday’s Hancock County Character Council teaching was on the quality of Attentiveness. This is defined as “Showing the worth of a person or task by giving my undivided concentration.”

Key points:

• Look at people
• Learn to listen
• Ask questions – situational, problem oriented, implications, need-fulfillment

Small group lesson on Family Matters this week dealt with the marriage relationship and dealt with two key points: Make a commitment to seek God and Make a commitment to fight fair. Fighting fair means:

• Stop to listen carefully
• Guard your words faithfully
• Handle your anger righteously

James 1:19 “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”

I am not anti-technology and endorse the strengths of new media.  I believe it was Albert Einstein who first said that things which have potential for great good also have potential for  great harm.That is very true of new media. With the immediacy of electronic “communication” there is a conflict with “stop” and “slow”. It’s more about rants than asking questions. And it’s rare that we can look at people. I heard a speaker on the radio today say that we have become “addicted to the artificial”.

Today challenge yourself to go see someone face-to-face and have a real conversation.

#loveincghc