who do not listen to other believers are just as likely not to listen to God. He then warns, “The death of the spiritual life starts here, and in the end there is nothing left but empty spiritual chatter and clerical condescension which chokes on pious words. Those who cannot listen long and patiently will always be talking past others, and finally no longer will even notice it” (98). Failure to listen is, in effect, an unwillingness to hear anyone else. It is sheer selfishness born of the desire