A man mentioned he was retired and loved to travel. I asked how much he had traveled. He responded. “I’ve been to 58 countries.” Next I asked, “How do you decide where you want to go?” He responded, “I compare prices between different travel packages.”

“No, I mean how do you decide where you want to go?” He said, “I ask myself. Can I get there by a cruise ship or by a land tour?”

“No, but how do you decide where you want to go?”

“Then, I find out if any family members want to join me and my wife. We have two adult children.”

“How do you decide where you want to go?”
“One time we went to Panama and went through the Panama Canal. It was wonderful.”

“No, how do you decide where you want to go?”
“Vietnam was the most surprising trip. It was delightful. The people are so friendly.”

“No, how do you decide where you want to go?”
“Once on a safari, we slept in a small cabin. The next morning there were four tigers just laying outside our front door. The ranger said, ‘They won’t hurt you.’ I stayed inside.”

“No, how do you decide where you want to go?”
“Did you know Madagascar is the only place on earth to go where, you can see Lemurs.”

“But how do you decide where you want to go?”
“Oh, oh, oh, how do I decide where to travel? I don’t know. Let me think about it… Here’s my answer. If I hear about a place I haven’t been, then I suddenly want to go there.”

I responded, “Thank you!”

Close

A good conversation involves two people being in sync. You can share lots of words and still not be in sync. Being in sync creates safety. It allows for dialogues to develop deeper. Safe, in-sync dialogues are the pathway to oneness.

Prayer

Father, help me with deep dialogue. Help me listen better. And, stay longer in conversations. Help me stay, listen ,and be more present. Help the two of us to be in sync. Help us be one as you Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are One. Help me see listening as an act of service. Amen.

Biblical Meditation

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, -Ephesians 5:25 (ESV)

Husbands, listen to your wives, even as Jesus…