Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
I cannot stop listening. . .

I cannot stop listening. . .

Last updated on: January 26, 2018 at 10:23 pm by John Mark N. Reynolds

I cannot stop listening. . . 2018-01-26T22:23:09-04:00 John Mark N. Reynolds

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

E026CAC9-29AB-4F7D-849D-2C2360E2D75A

Many students use Plato’s ideas without realizing they are doing so. As a result, we end up discussing Plato again and that can be tiresome. We must talk about Plato to understand our assumptions, but Plato ends up everywhere!

The longer we have believed an idea, the more it slips into the cracks of our minds. We embrace it without knowing it. This is dangerous because if we do not understand why we think something is good, we might cease to take the truth seriously, or even use the good thing badly and so cause harm.

Even worse is when our history causes a very bad idea to be in the air of the classroom we attended, the water we drank after games, defining the earth where we stand.

Generally, when the students in my discussion classes get “stuck” on an idea, making no progress, it is because part of the class is not listening. Sometimes it helps for the room to stop, listen to each person, and process.

Sometimes that is not enough. Sometimes my students and I can understand the intellectual problem, but not the feeling behind it. I cannot “get” the idea because the motive behind the idea is missing in my heart.

This is why I have always suggested that to discuss a book, you have to learn to love it—or at least see why other people have loved it. To refute an idea, you have to grasp why people have wished the idea to be true.

What This Has to Do with Race

Race in America is not just a topic, but the continuous experience of millions of Americans. Friends of every race tell me they get tired of having to talk about race. Some of my friends, those of color, are tired of talking and having nobody really listen.

I must begin by listening.

Listening is a start, but not enough. It must be ground into my very being what it is to be beautiful, good, and wise and yet be treated like a child.

I have to know what it is to feel that the culture of my Mother and Father is viewed as stupid and unworthy.

I have to know what is it to love America and have America treat me like a child at best and a servant at worst.

Friends help, but that is a burden that usually they should not have to bear. They should be free to live their God-breathed lives without “helping me.” We have to talk, God knows, and I have to listen, but sometimes this is too much to demand.

This is when great minds, great writers come to the rescue.

How Langston Hughes Helps Me

I read in order to feel and nobody helps (at least me) more than Langston Hughes. He is greater than I am but still reaches my heart, soul, and mind. This beautiful soul wrote this:

I, too, sing America.

I am the darker brother.

They send me to eat in the kitchen

When company comes,

But I laugh,

And eat well,

And grow strong.

Tomorrow, I’ll be at the table

When company comes.

Nobody’ll dare

Say to me,

“Eat in the kitchen,”

Then.

Besides,

They’ll see how beautiful I am

And be ashamed —

I, too, am America.

I reflect, but it is better if I feel. What is it to be sent to the kitchen as a servant when one is an equal or a superior? What is it to know one is beautiful and be treated as ugly? What is it to endure and still be great? What is it to have to assert to the nation one loves that one is an American?

Poetry teaches me the right ideas, forces me to talk (again!) about what I must learn, but it also helps me feel as my brothers and sisters, some my betters, feel. Piercing pain, true friendship, visions of beauty, wisdom, and delight make me untired of conversations that become wiser, virtuous, and more joyful.

I cannot get tired of that, God help me.

Rachel Motte edited this essay.

Previous Post

January 22, 2018

Too Much Smack, Too Little Talk

Next Post

January 24, 2018 “We are all going to die.” - On Popular Culture that Ignores 40% of the Population

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Apologetics Art Culture Education On Books On Education Philosophy Politics Pop Culture Spiritual Reflections Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 July 2025 June 2025 September 2024 July 2024 June 2024 December 2023 June 2023 September 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, "What is impossible with man is possible with God"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Jesus Paul Moses Peter

Books by This Author John Mark Reynolds

See All Titles »