Exchanging Opinions

Exchanging Opinions

The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.

Proverbs 18:15 (NIV)

STEP ONE on the communication ladder was Hallway Talk, and step two was Reporter Talk. Today we take step three: Intellectual Talk. This kind of communication says, “Do you know what I think?”

Here’s an example. Imagine Olivia says to her husband, John, “I heard today that George has cataracts.” Her husband responds, “I think he should go see Dr. Gillespie. I hear he’s the best in town.” “I don’t know,” his wife responds. “I’ve heard that Dr. Black is good. He’s younger and has the latest techniques.” “I’d go for the experience of Dr. Gillespie,” her husband responds. Then they move to another topic of conversation.

After the basic information was shared (George has cataracts), they both shared their ideas on the subject. Typically, when people talk on this level, they watch for the other person’s response. If one person gets defensive, the other person will likely bring the conversation to a close or retreat to a safer subject.

This kind of conversation allows us to express our opinions, but it doesn’t go much further than that because we’re not really interacting with each other’s ideas. As the above proverb says, the wise and discerning seek out knowledge—they are not content with what they know. We need to seek out knowledge from our spouse.

Lord Jesus, please teach me to listen and learn. I pray that as a couple we will be able to share our ideas and discuss them in a deeper way. May our communication strengthen our relationship.

Communication