SomeOne's listening... it ain't me.

Are you a poor or lazy listener like me?  

I'm easily distracted which likely contributes to my poor listening skills.   I don't think I'm intentionally a lazy listener, I try to pay attention and concentrate when spoken to.  I'm pretty sure I  have some sort of attention-deficit in conversations, especially when there are others talking, noises or activities going on in the background.

This deficiency affects me most noticeably when I listen to songs.  I'm terrible at picking up the lyrics or for that matter remembering them.  It's a multi-tasking thing to listen to the music AND the words.  I gravitate to the music rather than the words...but not both at the same time.

I can recognize tunes but generally don't know the lyrics to them.  I'm always amazed at how everyone else in my family can rattle off lyrics to songs... not me.  I can't even remember the classic hymns/songs for church service...not even traditional Christmas carols. !!! -  without the aid of a song sheet/hymnal or powerpoint slide

So recently, I really paid attention to lyrics from a song.  I've heard this song many, many times....but never really heard the lyrics until the other day.   There were few distractions as  I was in my car pulling out of the garage on my way to the gym.  No traffic, no pedestrians, no glaring sun, no rain,  no passengers, just me.... the radio was on - I listened.

This was the song that was playing... 

Better Than a Hallelujah ~Amy Grant

At the end of the day, I know I need to work harder at listening.

God listens.

God loves a lullaby
In a mothers tears in the dead of night
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
God loves a drunkards cry,
The soldiers plea not to let him die
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah

The woman holding on for life,
The dying man giving up the fight
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes
The tears of shame for what's been done,
The silence when the words won't come
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah

Better than a church bell ringing,
Better than a choir singing out,singing out.

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah