AUTHOR: Robin Dugall DATE: 2:12:00 PM ----- BODY:

For those of you who are shepherds of people, maybe this will speak to you as it did to me. Sometimes, I think we who listen are our own worst enemies and our friend's worst nightmare. Listening is always the best way to minister to someone on the journey! "The new priest is nervous about hearing confessions, so he asks the older priest to sit in on his sessions. The new priest hears a couple of confessions, then the old priest asks him to step out of the confessional for a few suggestions. The old priest suggests, "Cross your arms over your chest, and rub your chin with one hand.... and try saying things like "yes, I see," and "yes, go on," and "I understand." The new priest crosses his arms, rubs his chin with one hand and repeats all the suggested remarks to the old priest. The old priest says, "Now, don't you think that's a little better than slapping your knee and saying, "No ****...what happened next?"

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