Crystal Clear Comunication
December 4, 2008
This post is late. One of the joys of living with small children is the wide variety of communicable diseases you get to experience-namely the flu and pink eye. 
I’ve worked with the flu and sick kids lots of times, but staring at a computer screen with pink eye is sheer torture. My Quasimoto phase is now over (I hope) so we’ll pick up with a second post about improving communication. Thanks for hanging in there patiently.
Crystal Clear Communication
In case you’re wondering, this is not a post about “3 steps to crystal clear communication”. In fact, I seriously doubt if there is such a thing as crystal clear communication. I think it belongs in the same category as unicorns, white elephants, and clean clothes on kids. They may exist, but I’ll never see them.
Our last post on improving personal and business communication was fairly general. Today, I’d like to go a little deeper and look at the ultimate model for communication- the Lord’s Prayer.
There are generally two camps in regards to the Lord’s Prayer. One group believes that this is the end-all, be-all of prayers. It’s a multipurpose, one-stop-shopping prayer for whatever need arises in your life. it was good enough for Jesus, so it’s good enough for me.
Another group knows the prayer by heart, but they use it as a model for communicating with God. Personally, I believe this is what Jesus meant when He spoke this prayer, and we’ll work from this view.
Where to Start
Normally, when you begin a conversation (or a prayer), the temptation is to begin with a run-down of your needs, wants, and experiences. You are fascinated by your wit and charm, and assume that your conversation partner will be too.
We are a self-centered lot, no matter how hard we try to deceive ourselves. But let’s take a look at how the Lord’s Prayer begins.
The Lord’s Prayer
From the New Century Version, Matthew 6:9~
So when you pray, you should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
may your name always be kept holy.
May your kingdom come
and what you want be done,
here n earth as it is in heaven.
Give us the food we need for each day.
Forgive us our sins,
just as we have forgiven those who sinned against us.
And do not cause us to be tempted,
but save us from the evil one.
Everyday Application
So, how do we apply this model pray to our everyday communication? I’m not often a fan of stretching Biblical applications, but I think this one holds true, so here goes.
In the Lord’s prayer, Jesus instructs the disciples (and us) not to begin with what you need or want from God, but to begin with a clear picture of God as He is.
- Begin each conversation with an observation or praise of your conversation partner. (Over at Lance’s Jungle of Life, Jennifer Abbot did an awesome job of relating a technique that removes a negative spin on conversations by using the word “you” sparingly, and correctly.)
Jesus didn’t cover all the various afflictions, needs, and desires we commonly have in his prayer. Instead, he covers the bare-bones basics: food.
- Keep your list of requests, complaints, demands, or ailments to a minimal. If the topic is not vital, keep quiet. Express your needs, but don’t let them take over your conversations. Beating a dead dog is useless, and no one cares if you are constipated (except your doctor).
Forgive those who wrong us, and we will be forgiven in the same manner. Now that’s a scary thought.
- Be quick to clear the air. If you have wronged someone, fess up. Own your mistake, ask for forgiveness, and try to make it right if possible. If someone has wronged you, speak the truth in love and let them know. Honesty opens the lines of communication.
Save us from the evil one.
- Admit your faults readily. Don’t be a gossiping goose. Don’t try to be better than anyone. We are all creatures of God. We all sin. We are all tempted, and therefore we all goof up. Pretending you are perfect only drives a wedge between your relationships.
The Lord’s Prayer teaches us how we should converse with the creator of the universe. If this formula is the perfect combination to reaching God’s heart, shouldn’t it reach the heart of your spouse, your child, or that difficult client?
Comments
-
Jamie Simmerman
-
Matthew Dryden
-
Lance
-
Jennifer
-
Writer Dad
-
Jamie Simmerman
-
Writer Dad
