Two Ears, One Mouth

Recently, I've been doing some photography for my church as part of an effort to update and enhance the church's website. Yesterday's assignment was to photograph our pastor greeting visitors after the morning worship service. The photo below was the best one I got yesterday, and I think it illustrates an important skill good pastors must have, listening.

Listening, Waynesville, NC  -  2013

(Click on photo to enlarge.)

Since the most visible thing that pastors do is preaching, many people just naturally think of speaking as the most important talent a pastor must have. They must not only be skilled at public speaking, but must also have "the gift of gab" for individual conversations. While most pastors are skilled speakers (those who are not usually don't last long), there is an old adage that says God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. Listening is an undervalued skill, and one a good pastor must have. You can't help anyone until you understand what their struggles are, and you will never understand their struggles unless you learn how to really listen. I'm proud to say I have a pastor who knows how to listen.