Hearing a lot

I just watched the movie Gettysburg and yep you guessed it, it’s about the battle of Gettysburg. The cool thing about it is that it humanizes the leaders, displays their faith, their pride, their honor, and their struggles. There is a scene between Gen. Longstreet, “Pete” and Gen. Armistead, “Lo” in Gen Longstreet’s tent. Gen. Armistead, a subordinate to a subordinate of Longstreet, is expressing his desire to see Gen Hancock who just so happens to be the opposing commander. He talks about how they were the best of friends before the war and how he didn’t really want to fight him. At one point he recalls that he told Gen Hancock that if he raised his hand against him “may God strike me down” (a quote that is historically accurate and event that happens). But what struck me was not Gen. Armistead lamenting but Gen Longstreet simply listening. Gen. Armistead does all the talking, and I mean all the talking. Old Pete simply listens, giving Lo his complete attention, and the occasional nod. The result, Armistead thanks Longstreet and is comforted that Longstreet empathizes with him. The fact that Longstreet understands is enough for Armistead. How much so is it with Christ? He completely understands our lives, our joys, our sorrows and is available all the time, anytime to listen. God has been hearing a lot from me lately, the good and the bad, my successes and my failures, my hopes and aspirations and what I believe as hindrances and as a result I have been comforted and content.