The World Needs More Listeners part 1

     Lately, the days have gone by a bit shaky-- a ton of things to complain about and a lot of neglect from leadership figures.  For the longest time, I was whining and getting absolutely flabbergasted because these people would procrastinate, slack off, and just evade doing work altogether.  Disillusionment set in fairly rapidly over these last couple of months.  I thought I was going to explode in frustration.  In a nutshell, I was (and still am, in my honest opinion), going through "missionary puberty."

     Now why do I bring that up?  Well, the fact of the matter is is that much of the pent-up anxiety, wrath, resentment, disconnect, and sadness comes not from purposeful hatred, but from a lack of communication-- a lack of love, better put.

SUICIDE NOTE 2: There is too much stress in my life from school and the environment it creates, expectation s for sports, expectations from friends, and expectations from my family (SOURCE).

     This was written, really, not too long ago.  A disconnect between child and society resulted in tragedy.  It's really unfortunate hearing about such news.  I would like to share one more thing with y'all:

SUICIDE NOTE 1: I have no hope, only dreams that have died.  I was never able to obtain satisfactory interpersonal relationships.  I feared the future and a lot of other things.  I felt inferior.  I have almost no will to achieve, perseverance, or sense of worth, so goodbye.  I should have listened to you but I didn't.  I started using acid last summer.  It's purgatory (SOURCE).

     Neglect-- failure to understand-- leads to abandonment-- forlornness of the soul.  The brightest of souls are destroyed because of the lack of care.

     The pinnacle of human yearning comes from wanting to be heard-- to be listened to.  More and more, I'm seeing that many people are all either sad or angry if they're not recognized (myself included:P).  I don't know if this is just a part of human nature, but if someone knows that they have been heard, they are happy, content, and confident.  I suppose Mavlov was right-- we strive to be self-confirmative in most all of our actions.

     If we reach out to those who need us-- the quiet ones especially--- imagine their gratitude!  They may not voice it immediately, but down the road, they'll be grateful that you didn't give up on them.  I want to share one more thing-- it's a sermon given in the 1970's.  It's been adapted to help you reach out.

"First, [these struggling people] need faith.  They need to believe.  They read to know the doctrines, the commandments, the principles of the gospel.  They need to grow in understanding and conviction.  They need to worship and to pray, but they live in a time when all of this is so seriously questioned, when doubt is encouraged.
 
Two, they need to be accepted as they are, and to be included.  They need a family, the most important social unity in the world; and even if they have a good family, they need the supportive influence outside their home-- of others, of neighbors, of friends... of brothers, of human beings.

Three, they need to be actively involved, to participate, to give service to give of themselves.

Four, they have to learn somehow that they are more important than their mistakes, that they are worthwhile, valuable, useful; that they are loved unconditionally" (Marion D. Hanks, October, 1971).

     The world needs more listeners.  How much better would it be if we all understood each other?  To the all of us, the world can be a vile place, but we don't have to be.  Help that one person who needs your hand.  We're here to serve others, says the teacher of teachers (Matthew 20:27).