That's us, dude!

The kids and I have begun what's called Socratic Seminars. We sit in a big circle and discuss interesting articles, fables, morals, etc. The point isn't to come to a right answer, but to recognize that, as Socrates says, "The only true wisdom consists of knowing that you know nothing." I love the movie Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Bill and Ted look at each other incredulously after reading this quote, and reply, "That's us, dude!"

The kids and I are realizing how much we grow through these seminars, which involve 90% listening and 10% talking. We begin by reading a passage of text and formulating our thoughts privately. We quietly jot down our individual questions and opinions. Once everyone feels they have something substantial to offer the discussion, we begin the seminar. There's no hand-raising or arguing, the kids and I just listen as one person poses a question and we respond as we feel led. Of course, everyone feels led, because we all wrote down our thoughts before the seminar began! But, only one person can speak at a time, and therefore no one has enough time to share everything they thought; they are forced to listen. This frustrates them, annoys them, and genuinely makes them want to shout out, "listen to me!" But, by the end of the seminar, we all stand there amazed by how much we learned from each other! I , "the teacher", come away astounded by how my eyes were opened to new ways of seeing the text just from listening to the kids.

The best was when one of my fifth graders stayed after school to share with me. This student is quite gifted and spends 1/2 the day in middle school because he is doing math two years ahead, and writing a year ahead.. When he is in our class in the afternoon, he tends to have a lot of the answers and isn't shy about speaking up. So, just after the bell rang and our seminar ended, he approached me in a quieter manner than usual.

"Mrs. LaGravinese, Socrates was right... In the beginning of the seminar I realized I was talking a lot, so I made myself stop and listen. About halfway through I realized that some of the quietest people in our class are really smart! And some of the kids who are in trouble a lot, had really good ideas. I learned so much from them, [laughs sheepishly] all because I stopped talking."

***

Listening to others is powerful, and opens your mind to possibilities you would never come to on your own. To listen, though, you must stop talking. You must stop thinking about yourself.
To truly listen, you have to believe that what the other person has to say is valuable.
Don't listen with the sole intent of offering solutions, or
Relating your own life to theirs.
The most unlikely and unseemly people have much to offer you, if only that through really listening to them, you have learned to love others as you do yourself.

How much of your day involves this kind of listening to others, with an open heart and an eager mind? This kind of listening is powerful in our relationships, like pouring some Miracle Grow into our lives. We will blossom with friends, family, God, and in understanding ourselves. If you think you're doing someone else a favor by "listening" to them, then you are probably not listening at all.

I think this kind of listening can be uncomfortable, frightening, and even painful as it both takes away your control and opens you to the possibility of change. You are laying down your opinions, your answers, your experiences, and all of your great wisdom. All of this with the intent to genuinely value and find worth in another.What a challenge!

Mark 12:28-31