Essay: Listening with a hearing heart

Back in the 1950s, there was a TV series called The Millionaire. The idea was that, each week, a rich guy would give away $1 million to someone he’d never met. Then, the recipient had to decide what to do with the money, for better or worse.

Photo: Nano Erdozain

In the first book of Kings, God makes a similar offer to Solomon in a dream:

“Ask something of me and I will give it to you.”

God thinks the young king might ask for a long life or greater riches or triumph over his enemies. Instead, Solomon responds, “I am a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act” to serve the people of his kingdom. So, he asks for “an understanding heart to judge your people and to distinguish right from wrong.” And God, impressed, grants his wish.

Another translation of “understanding heart” is “hearing heart.”

With a hearing heart, Solomon will be a listener — listening to the promptings of God and listening to the people he serves as king.

A hearing heart is the foundation of wisdom and compassion.

The beauty of a hearing heart is that we don’t have to wait for God to give it to us. We can just do it — just decide to have a heart that listens, just start listening.

If I listen closely and with openness, I can get to know the people I come in contact with, even those with whom I disagree.

I can know them as companions on this road of life, as pilgrims with me in searching for God and what God is calling us to. Together, we can listen to each other and listen to the nudgings of the Holy Spirit.

And the Spirit is always nudging us into greater listening and community.

Patrick T. Reardon

7.24.26