WF Pride

Excel in Communication

Chad Cottingham

One of my favorite commercials took place about eight years ago. A German Coast Guard trainee sits behind a display of computers, gadgets and a big communications radio. I assume it’s his first day alone behind the control panel. A distress call from German waters comes across the airwaves in English. “Mayday! Mayday! We are sinking, we are sinking!” The perplexed trainee looks around, waits a couple of seconds, and then responds in very broken English, “Whaaat awe yew sinking about?”

I laugh every time I see it. But in reality, how often does this really happen in our lives? I’m not talking different languages, or broken English, but just not truly hearing what someone is saying. We can get so busy, and so easily distracted, that we don’t hear everything people say. We hear bits and pieces of a conversation, email, or text, but not the entire communication. Or maybe you are thinking of the next thing you’re going to say rather than truly listening to what someone else is communicating to you. Either way, we could all probably improve in the area of communication.

How often do we do this when reading the bible? The bible is God’s word – in print. It’s full of history, truth, love, hope, forgiveness, instruction, etc… It is His way to communicate with us. How often do you read it? Do you listen to what He is saying and teaching you through it? Or do you go away and forget what you just read? The bible says this in Revelation 1:3 ‘God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near’ – NLT

“Dear Lord and Heavenly Father, thank you for your spoken word – the bible. Please help us take the time to read it and to hear what you want for our lives. Help us to also hear and listen to those around us. Help us to be great communicators. It’s in Jesus name I pray, Amen”