Enough?

There is a saying I use that to describe a particular situation that is almost a cliché.

“One can only tell a client what a client can hear.”

Life reminds me that each time I try to tell a client more than they are able to hear, nothing happens.  I can push hard, be success, become loud, in the end, nothing really changes.  The client only hears what a client can hear.

If one is going to hear, then one must be open to more.  An effective way to help is to ask a question that challenges their thinking.  The question is always different.  What the questions have is common is that they put one’s logic and actions in a different light, challenging one to take a fresh look at the context and wisdom of the actions taken and the actions that should have been taken that were not.

The questions that prove to be effective are rarely obvious when one realizes that the other no longer hears.  To find them requires patience, lots of listening, and often reflection on the individual, their experiences and journey.   Even then, there are critical steps that remains; embracing, understanding, and opening one’s self to more.

I find myself looking in the mirror as I listen to the Psalmist.  “You [Divinity] lifted the cloud of guilt from your people, you put their sins far out of sight.” (Psalm 85.2) I realize I have not heard this with my heart and mind, so my question is what is the question that opens the door to understanding and an embrace?

I do not know what works for anyone else.  I do know the following questions have helped me see the Psalmist words differently.

Is knowing and acknowledging a gift the same as accepting the gift?

Am I open to look at the future in a different way because of the action of another?

When someone tries to help me, do I need to do anything in order to accept their gift?

My way is not enough, there is more to the story.