Ellen Chauvin | Soaked & Sprouting

Soaked in God's Word, Sprouting Seeds of Faith

Learning to Listen

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I’m a snob. I admit it. Every time I hear the word “mindfulness” I immediately stick my nose in the air. I’ve always thought it was New Age hokey. Until I read the first two chapters of Karen Ehman’s new book Listen, Love, Repeat.

Karen talks about listening to others, and being on the alert to heart drops they may make. What’s a heart drop, you ask?

“A heart drop is a concept my husband and I learned from our small group leader, Michael. It’s when a person, either directly or in a cryptic way, gives you a peek into his or her heart. It may be through actual words, or you may pick up on a feeling, perhaps sadness or loneliness.” Listen, Love, Repeat Page 15

Now, here is the dictionary’s definition of mindfulness:
“the quality or state of being conscious or aware of something; a mental state achieved by focusing one’s awareness on the present moment.”

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Wouldn’t you say that hearing a heart drop, picking up on another’s feelings or listening to those around you would qualify as being mindful of them? It’s an awareness of where you are and who you are with, and how they may be feeling.

And do you know what else? I’m a great listener. I am. Except when I’m focused on my to do list, or in a hurry, which seems to be a lot lately. “Smile and nod” is my motto at those times. Please don’t judge! I KNOW you’ve rushed into Wal-mart for one quick item, keeping your head down and eyes to the floor so you won’t see anyone you know. I KNOW you’ve quickly looked the other way when you HAVE seen someone, so as not to get into a long, involved conversation, when all you want to do is get home, take the make-up off, put the slippers on and relax. You have done those things, haven’t you?

Sadly, I have. And many times I feel guilty about it. But there is hope!

“Hearing a heart drop is an art we must lovingly cultivate. It can lead to the most wonderful times of encouragement as we make it our habit to listen and to love.” Listen, Love, Repeat Page 17

“Because near-narcissism and the too-busy lifestyle is the normal default, to become a person who thinks of others first takes great effort on our part. It requires us to live alert.” Listen, Love, Repeat Page 18

An art we must cultivate with great effort. Hmmm, anything worthwhile is hard work, right?

As I was reading, I had to honestly ask “Where does this leave me? The introvert who needs a break from interacting with people? How can I be on the ready to listen and respond to heart drops?”

Karen helped with that too!

“…we need to focus on the face in front of us. The email in our inbox. The appointment on our calendar. The name that rises unbidden in our thoughts. Even the all-too-familiar form that sits and sleeps near us every day. What are they thinking? What are they feeling? Can you climb behind their eyeballs and see the world from their eyes, if only for a moment?” Listen, Love, Repeat Page 30

I can begin with those closest to me. Listening. Really listening. Loving them. And then repeating the process, until it becomes a habit. But I can’t stop there! I need to expand my listening, noticing and awareness of others until it reaches the stranger in line next to me at the store. Perhaps they need a helping hand. Or maybe just a kind smile. Maybe, they just need someone to SEE them.

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Karen said she’d once heard that Jesus’ real ministry was the person He found standing in front of Him. How profound. I am now more aware of anyone near the three foot “safety circumference” that many introverts set up. I’m on the look out for those that may need a little kindness, a helping hand or a smile, pointing them to Jesus with my actions.

Can I be honest? I haven’t finished the book yet. But Karen has given me so many great pointers to begin my listening journey – I wanted to share with you. Matter of fact, I wish I could copy and paste the whole book right here for you. But I can’t. However, I CAN give away a copy!!! AND a study guide with DVD. YAY! Leaving a comment will enter you in this drawing (I wish I was more technical and could offer you a snazzy Rafflecopter entry, but hey, I’m not. Besides, I enjoy old timey things…). So, leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway for Karen’s new book Listen, Love, Repeat AND a study guide with DVD. Be sure to tell your friends so they can enter too! Share the love!

Won’t you join me today? Let me know in your comment ways you will begin listening and loving. Then repeat. Can’t wait to hear your ideas!

Grace be with you,

No Place to Hide – Book Review

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Nothing says “I’ve missed you” like breaking into the home of your childhood sweetheart in the dead of night. And that’s exactly what Jackie Sellars did when she learned her friend Ian, whom she hasn’t seen in fifteen years, is wanted by the FBI. Jackie is the lead character in Lynette Eason’s new romantic suspense thriller, No Place to Hide.

A former cop, Jackie now works for Operation Refuge, an organization that provides help and shelter to those who can’t help themselves…to people with no place to run and no place to hide. She is determined to help Ian Lockwood figure out who is setting him up. Ian, a researcher for Wainwright Labs, received a coded e-mail not meant for his eyes.

When Jackie sees his picture splashed all over the news accusing him of a terrorist plot, she tries to call Ian, but gets no answer. That’s when she decides to break into his home in the middle of the night. That’s when she finds Ian, and his dog Gus, trying to hide from four thugs who are out to murder him. This begins their scramble for safety, running from the bad guys and the FBI. Their days on the lam take them from Atlanta, GA all the way to the city of New York.

Throughout the thrills and plots of the book, we find that Jackie is actually running from her past and from God. The on-again, off-again relationship of her parents, coupled with abuse from them, finally sends her running to live at her Grandfather’s. She left her home without saying goodbye to anyone, not even Ian. As for Ian, his past has been rough also, but he’s never lost his faith in God.

Ian and Jackie are determined to prove his innocence. The feds think he’s murdered an Atlanta CDC employee, and is working on a bio-terrorism bacteria. The bad guys just want him dead, before he cracks the code in the e-mail.

Jackie and Ian find themselves in many tight spots – physically and emotionally – while they are running. They begin to grow closer, and realize their mutual attraction from childhood still runs deep. Jackie begins to see Ian’s dependance upon the Lord, and realizes this is where his strength comes from. Could this be the key to her own feelings of emptiness?

Lynette does a good job of keeping the story moving and the reader guessing. I actually figured out one small twist (any detective wanna-be, like me, would figure it out), however there was one plot twist at the end that was quite surprising! Of course, I can’t give you a hint about what it is!

This is a good summer read, perfect for the beach or a relaxing vacation. Anyone that enjoys a who-done-it thriller would like this book, which is the third in Lynette’s Hidden Identity series.

I received this book free from the Revell Reads Blog Tour Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.