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Take the Time to Listen
The first time that I visited my wife's family pig farm, I had a life changing experience. It was during our college dating years, and I went home with her for a weekend to really get a feel of the hog-farming industry. I was in for a rude awakening! From our conversations, Brooke (my wife) never really told me how many pigs they had. I just figured maybe a few dozen or so. WRONG!!!!

This hog farm is located in central Nebraska in the middle of nowhere, but the surrounding is absolutely beautiful (with the exception of the smell of course, but you get used to that, since they claim it smells like money).

While I was riding along with my future father-in-law Jeff in his truck, he gave me the tour of this major operation. It turned out that over 40,000 hogs a year went through this farm! I was in utter amazement at the thousands of pigs that I was seeing and the technology involved in the computerized automation used in the feeding systems. Here I was, this farming illiterate, totally blown away by the sophistication of this major operation.

As I took the tour, Jeff introduced me to a task that, to this day, gives me goose bumps. There are literally dozens of jobs that have to be done on a farm on a daily basis, or the consequences become very costly. One of those jobs is "power washing". To those of you who have no idea what power washing is, hang on, as I am about to explain it to you.

To those of you who know exactly what I'm talking about, please cease from laughing and continue reading, because you haven't read anything yet. To perform this task, you need to be wearing the right gear, which includes a set of long boots, rain gear and goggles (but don't plan on ever wearing any of these articles of clothing again, except on a farm). After putting on the proper attire for this mystery task, Jeff led me into one of several pig units, where some of the pigs were housed. As we were walking to the hog building, the smell quickly began to intensify: little did I know it was nothing compared to what I was in for. Once in the hog building I couldn't believe my eyes, or my nose for that matter. There were pigs all over the building in penned sections, and it seemed like the moment I walked through the door, all of their eyes were on me.

First, he told me to remove all the pigs from the caged sections and to herd them into the hallway. I thought to myself, "Hey, no problem, I'll just open the cages and the pigs will walk toward the other end of the building in a nice single file line so I can section them off and let the cleaning take place." Boy, was I wrong! Trying to herd pigs is like trying to herd water. Those smelly suckers were running all over the place and I think Jeff got a real kick out of watching these hogs make a fool of me as I was slipping and sliding in their you-know-what.

After finally getting all of the pigs to the other end of the building, I was taught the craft of power washing. Power washing is simply spraying hot water (about 130–140 degrees) out of a long hose to clean the pens where the pigs have been, and you know what pigs tend to leave behind. Well, this was my job for the next few hours. As Jeff was explaining some last-Minute details to me, I was already getting started. Because I was only hearing what he was saying and not really "listening", I learned a lifelong lesson. I was moving right along during the washing process and even beginning to think this whole thing was somewhat therapeutic, because it had given me time to think, even with the repugnant smell. In fact, I became so relaxed while spraying that I even began to whistle and then sing. BIG, BIG MISTAKE!!!

As I was singing and spraying, all of a sudden, gulp! Something (you know what) had somehow made its way into my mouth for a direct hit! It happened so fast that I didn't have much time to process what just happened until the roof of my mouth and stomach began sending signals to my brain that something was terribly wrong. I begin to quickly feel dizzy and a little nauseous. I turned off the sprayer and leaned against the wall to collect myself and I begin to think back to when Jeff was giving me the instructions and explaining the details that, in my haste, I failed to listen to. One of the most important rules of power washing is "Never, never power wash with your mouth open!"

Hearing Will Cost You and You Will Pay...
When you choose to only "hear" others instead of listen to them, it will cost you. It will cost you personally, professionally and in almost every other area in your life. How many times have you heard this statement in various settings; "You just don't listen to me."

Maybe the key relationships in your life have been severed or seriously strained as a result of only thinking of what you're going to say next instead of listening to them share what's really on their heart. The best way to alienate close friends or the loved ones in your life is to simply not listen to them. Listening is one of the simplest communication tools that we can utilize to strengthen and grow our relationships, but it's not always easy.

When God created us, he gave us two ears and one mouth. I think that's a clue that we should listen twice as much as we talk.

Honor the Person Speaking
Think about a time where you've met someone who was very distinguished or famous. Your eyes followed their every move, no matter if they were singing, dancing, speaking or just simply standing there looking around. You showed complete reverence and honor towards this person. The word honor is defined as admiring or giving tribute to someone or something and that's exactly what we can show to others by simply listening to them.

Don't Listen at All!
If you're too busy to give a person your undivided attention, don't listen to them at all! Politely let them know that now is not a good time, but then give them a specific time that would be better and that you'll be "all ears." Or kindly tell them that you have five Minutes and that if it will take longer you will be happy to schedule an appointment. This type of courtesy is seldom ill received. Try it!

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