Hearing, listening, and understanding

What is the difference?



I may hear you, but I may not be listening to you. I may not be focused on understanding what you are saying and why you are saying it. I may not be focused on seeing things as you see them, whether I agree or not.



To see as others see. This is to understand.



How do we come to this?



The will.



I find and continue to find that we will hear only what we want to hear. Our wills are the keys to the doors of our ears. This amazes me.



How is it that we hear the wrong things? What makes our minds inaccurate filters of information or communication?



The will. If I am set on something in my head, I will interpret everything according to my mindset. I've seen this so many times. Arguments are pointless because of this. Two wills set. Two minds closed.



Now we need to be closed to somethings and open to others; closed to lies, open to truth. Yet are we usually in this situation in our relations or communications? Yes, there may be misunderstandings. But are we usually dealing with people who are deliberately out to deceive us?



How can we understand God if we cannot understand men and women made in God's image?