We cannot hear if we don't listen.

How well do we listen?

I speak for many reasons. Sometimes I have an idea to share, often because I have command to delegate, occasionally I’ll speak up so as to not be the only person in that meeting who hasn’t said anything, and perhaps not infrequently because I like to hear myself talk.

To be sure, speaking is an essential part of communication but listening is probably more important. Listening allows us to fully appreciate another’s point of view and it allows us time to formulate our ideas more carefully. But, in some cases if we don’t listen closely enough, we may miss an important message.

It was September of 2004. Darius Hall had just returned home from evening church service and was opening the door to his home when someone called out to him from the house next door. A man on the porch asked Darius if he could come over and help him move a piece of furniture. Being the kind and considerate person that he was, Darius said ‘of course’. As Darius walked through the front door, the other young man directed him towards a room at the end of a long hall. Little did Darius know there was another man in that room with a metal pipe ready to beat Darius so the two strangers could rob him of his possessions.

I wasn’t on call that night, but as I sat at my computer, something prompted me to go online and check the CT scans that had been that evening. I reviewed Darius’ brain CT and saw a large blood clot pressing on the left side of his brain. I called the ER and told them I would take care of him. The ER doc was extremely grateful because he was having a difficult time finding another hospital to transfer Darius to, for emergency neurosurgery.

As I was operating on Darius that night I became conscious of the thought that I was supposed to be there that night saving his life. That Darius had some important purpose to fulfill in his life which would have been impossible if I had not checked the brain CTs earlier, ‘for the heck of it’. A few days later I felt compelled to share this with him. Though he seemed to have a look of doubt on his face, I knew in my heart this was true, that it was not just a coincidence.

 

Comments

[Ryan Billabong]

So did u ever find out what happened to Darius Hall?

[Hal Colbassani MD]

Ryan,
No, but like many things we cannot always be certain of the effects of our actions on the lives of others, nor should we ever underestimate their impact either.
HP