listening does work...

A former football coach
and a pastor.

The coach discovered
the pastor was not like the rest...
this one listened,
was open,
willing to minister
outside the box.

The pastor discovered
the coach was not like the rest....
like the ones from his past.
This one was indeed
strong and candid...
but also
encouraging,
and kind.

It would have been easy
for the coach to dismiss
all pastors as
irrelevant.

It would have been easy
for the pastor to dismiss
all coaches as
hard-hearted.

With ears they
listened to each
other.

With hearts they
understood each
other.

That's what can happen
when people
take the time to
share their stories,
listen,
and spend
more time building
each other up....
rather than
tearing each other down.

If two men can do this....
then the church
can do this.

Listening
does
work.