Sometimes I serve as a judge for our school’s junior
high Invitational Quiz Bowl. I enjoy
participating in this scholastic sport because I like educational contests
where students are mentally challenged, and I’m always amazed at the variety of
information these students know. They
learn and retain volumes of knowledge, and that’s to be commended.
Now in Quiz Bowls as in any sport or contest, there
are rules to be followed. Quiz Bowl
rules of play are relatively easy to understand and are usually reviewed for
the moderators and judges before the event begins. This is good practice, especially for me,
since I only judge once a year. However,
this past fall when I judged, I discovered that one of the rules struck home
with me personally. The rule: “If the
team rings the buzzer before the question has been read completely and answers
incorrectly, they will lose five (5) points and the question will be repeated
in its entirety for the other team.”
I’m saddened to admit this, but I find myself
following the actions of the team who rings in before hearing the entire
question when I interrupt a person before she’s finished speaking. Just as the team misses the entire question
so I miss my friend’s entire comment. By
interrupting my friend, I don’t give her a chance to complete her thoughts, and
this isn’t fair to either of us. So I
ask myself why I interrupt.
The following are some of my observations:
a Sometimes
when I’m with a friend or friends whom I haven’t seen for an extended period of
time, I am so excited that I can’t wait to express myself. (self-centered)
b At
other times, I assume what the other person is going to say so I step in and
complete her/his thought verbally. (disrespectful)
c When
someone is speaking slowly or reaching for words, I grow restless. Then I find
myself either tuning out the person’s comments (poor listener) or finishing her
sentence. (impatient)
d While
I’m listening to the conversation, I might have a sudden, inspirational thought
so if I don’t say it then, I’ll forget it. (inconsiderate)
When I reflect on my observations, I
realize I have a long way to go on
improving my listening skills. I also need to work on being selfless,
respectful, patient and considerate to those whom I am conversing with. It took
a Quiz Bowl rule to bring this to my attention. Again, through ordinary life
events, God’s Spirit led me to insights about myself. From now on with the
Spirit’s guidance, I will be more alert in my conversations. So all my family
and friends out there, gently tap me on the shoulder when I interrupt our
conversations and reply, “Quiz Bowl.”
“He
who answers a matter before he hears it,
It is
folly and shame to him.” Proverbs 18:13
