What Amazes You?

“Well, here is an amazing thing…” John 9:30

What amazes you? What does it take to get your attention? What does it take to get you to listen long enough that you really understand what is being said?

There are many times when I get so engrossed in what I am doing, that when someone talks to me, I do not really listen and simply respond in the way that I think they want me to respond. The problem is that I didn’t stop doing, or thinking about what had my attention to begin with. I just gave what I thought was the expected response. Because of that, I have gotten myself into several really difficult situations, especially with my wife.


What really amazes me is that communication occurs at all. There are so many things that compete for our attention. I want and need to do a better job in the area of communication. The key is to put my full effort into listening first. To do that I need to unplug from wherever my mind has been, and turn my full attention to the person talking. I also need to make sure that I understand exactly what the other person is saying. For that to happen I tend to ask a lot of questions.

Communication also breaks down when I bring preconceived ideas to the discussion. There are times when my preconceived notions block communication. Pride says that I have all the answers. Humility says that there is still much that I need to learn.


It’s amazing what can happen when I listen to someone and begin to see things from their perspective. Seeing it through different eyes brings a new perspective that maybe I just need to be open to.

In John 9 the Pharisees were unset that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. They questioned the man born blind. They wanted to know who had healed him. Their only concern: who broke our rules! They called the former blind man back for a second inquisition. His response: “Well, here is an amazing thing…” you may not accept Him as being from God, but He must be from God, because only God can heal a blind man.

Because he was not blinded by preconceptions, the former blind man saw God. The really amazing thing is that the religious people did not see God’s hand at work, because they didn’t take the time to see things as they really were.

So, what amazes you? Are you seeing the hand of God in your life? Are you open to being amazed? I hope so!

~Pastor Dean