Did you ever wonder why they don’t teach listening in school or college while unfailingly offering speech courses? Who ever learned anything much via talking? But careful listening can be a learning bonanza. God gave us two ears and one mouth. Perhaps he was trying to tell us something. Apparently, we aren’t listening.

A visit to my dentist last week brought all this to mind. My dentist likes to talk during the entire time he has my mouth disabled. This visit was on course. He talked, I listened. A good student I had involuntarily become.

He told me what he was doing and why. He asked me what I thought knowing full well I could not respond. He talked about his kids and being a good parent. Then came this priceless gem which is mine for life.

“My grandparents were poor rice farmers, how about yours?”

“My grandparents taught my parents the value of hard work, honesty, reliability, honor, loyalty, decency and consideration of others. They taught my parents well. Then my parents taught me. Here is an example I remember so well which happened in high school. I had been working part time in a testing laboratory for two years when I told my father:

Me: “Dad, I am going to take a job in another laboratory instead of the one I now work at.”

Dad: “Why are you doing that?”

Me: “They offered me much more pay.”

Dad: Did you ask this new employer for a job back when you first looked for a job two years ago?”

Me: “Yes.”

Dad: “What did he say?”

Me: “He did not want me.”

Dad: “But he wants you now?” “Why?”

Me: “He has seen the good work I do and now wants me to do it for him and he offers lots more money.”

Dad: “Would this new person know about your good work if your current employer who took a chance on you two years ago had not put you on the job?”

Me: “No of course not!”

Dad: “Then what is the right thing to do?”

My dentist said that he never answered his father. He did not have to. The character lesson was clear. He continued to work for the first employer until he entered college. That employer recently died and his widow called to invite my dentist to the funeral. He felt so bad that he could not go. Why? Because he had to attend an important educational need for one of his children. A matter of priorities. Character again.

Economics is the science of looking at human needs and wants and resulting behavior, motivations and priorities. All too often do we forget that motivations are not all financial. Dollars do not trump love reputation or obligation.

That’s my dentist’s family lesson. It reminds me of the country saying: “Always leave the dance with the one who ‘brung’ you.”

Another old saying “Father knows Best” has great substance. It all adds up to one of the key ingredients of a well ordered civil society -- good character. I resolve to listen more and talk less. Hope you do too.