I have a friend named Jana Alcorn who is seasoned in the ministry, but also is a very wise woman. She said one time to a group of us, when you are in the room with a man or woman of God, make sure you come prepared with 2-3 substantive questions for them. She continued, in rooms like that, you will want to hear what they have to say.

I was in a room last night, close proximity, to someone I have learned from through books and conferences from a far. To be feet away from her and to have her come and give me a hug, was proximity I never thought I would have. Then she opened the room up for comments and questions about the subject matter at hand.

In that moment I was grateful for the words of my friend Jana, who prepared me to come with a question to hear from the matriarch in the room. Many were given the microphone, but most missed who was sitting just feet in front of them. As younger woman after younger woman talked about their story, they never asked a question that drew out wisdom from this mighty woman of God.

I realized two things in this moment, one we love to share what we are thinking, feeling or going through, we do not listen well. Multiple people spoke and it was not according to the subject at hand. Secondly, people did not come prepared to ask a question, to draw more out of this very seasoned woman of God and public figure.

Living in Nashville, we do not fan girl over people. People come to our churches, shop in our grocery stores, walk in our malls who you would know by name. But when given the honor of being in a room with them and talking on a microphone to them, it is not the time to tell your story, it is time to learn from theirs.

Jesus was in proximity to the disciples and they did life with Him, but they still asked questions like, how do we pray; how are we going to feed all these people; is that really you? When you are gifted with the presence of someone that has done what you haven’t be a listener and learner, ask questions, at least that is what Jana taught me. So, I asked a question, I asked her why do women shut down the voice of other women, her answer caused many in the room to take notes. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org