I transported Spirit back to Camelot. The Vette and I went along with him. I wanted to get a little “R & R.” As usual, I went to my favorite spot on the hill and sat under the big red oak tree, just above the mystical lake. Again, the Lady of the Lake held Excalibur high out of the water. And once more, she challenged me to try my luck at drawing the magic sword from her stingy hand.

I shook my head from side to side and said to the keeper of the sword, “I’ve learned a lot, and I believe that I’ve made major strides toward strengthening my character. But I sense that there are still some ugly devils that continue to haunt my mind and soul. I’m not yet worthy of wielding the splendid sword.”

With all of this more philosophical “mumbo jumbo” running through my head, I failed to recognize, or to hear, some pretty important things that were taking place and being said all around me. For instance, the giant dragon had returned. He was sneaking up behind me.

Plenty of friendly characters were also on hand. And they all tried to warn me about the looming dragon. Most of them arrived by way of “Looney Tunes Time Travel Express,” which was parked alongside the Corvette and next to “Louie’s time-travel limo.”

Bugs Bunny turned to Elmer Fudd and asked, “E-h-h, what’s up and about to cook, Doc?”

Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, and Tweety Pie all had megaphones and tried their best to get my attention. In fact, Tweety Pie hovered over my left ear, holding a huge black megaphone, and loudly chirped, “Hey, ya idiot! Can anyone in there hear me? Do ya have wads of cotton stuffed in yer ears? If dat dragon gets any closer, you can reach out and grab his long, forked tongue! Even that dumb puddy tat isn’t dis hard of hearing!”

Louie and Frankie, the Budweiser® lizards, got a kick out of their seeing me win the World Jousting Championship, not long ago. They continued to keep their watchful eyes on me. The lizards blew into bugle-horns until they ran out of wind. Louie and Frankie tried to sound the call for pending danger. But I was simply preoccupied. I didn’t hear them.

When they got tired of screaming at me, Louie said with a hoarse voice, “Well, Frankie, I guess that every deaf knight is another hungry dragon’s barbecued lunch. Say, aren’t we supposed to root for the dragon here?”

Still, I didn’t listen to all of those who were yelling out warning signals. I was wrapped up in my own thick blanket of thoughts, self-analyzing some of my remaining character flaws. My next couple of sentences unconsciously, but appropriately, hit the mark, “Sometimes, I’m so ‘tuned out’ that I can’t hear anything others have to say. Lord, how can I slay this personal dragon and learn to listen more attentively?”

When God responded to my plea for help, She immediately reached down and handed Bugs Bunny a carrot.

The happy rabbit asked, “E-h-h, where did this delicious carrot come from, Doc?”

God and I laughed. Then She said, “Herman Hesse (Siddartha) stated, ’But he learned more from the river than Vasudeva could teach him. . . . Above all, he learned from it how to listen with a still heart, with a waiting, open soul, without passion, without desire, without judgment, without opinions.’”

“Lord, will You help me to become a better listener?”

“Yes, I will, Wantsalittle. Effective person-to-person communication requires that you develop the ability to listen attentively. Former U.S. Secretary of State Dean Rusk once advised, ‘One of the best ways to persuade others is with your ears—by listening to them.’ Silence is a great educator. Try to hold your tongue, open your mind, and tune in to the potentially insightful words and messages of others.”

The Lord paused to hand Bugs Bunny another carrot and continued, “Allow people who are talking to you your full and undivided attention. Keep in mind how good it feels to be recognized and respected when others are really listening to you. Likewise, allow others to stand on stage and take their turns under the spotlight. When conversation is exchanged with mutual respect and attention, all parties concerned may clearly express themselves and mutually benefit from the experience. Wantsalittle, as you think by listening attentively, you will grow as an individual and become more persuasive, as a result. Strive to further develop your capacity for listening.” Then, God vanished into the sultry England air.

At the last moment, with the dragon closing in on me, I came to my senses. I wheeled and dodged as the beast raked at me with his hooked, sharp claws. Then I saw my opportunity.

I caught the dragon off guard. It seemed that the greedy dragon, who had already measured me, momentarily looked past me; the distracted dragon’s eyes turned to Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Sylvester, and Tweety Pie. The hungry monster licked his chops as he thought about having a ‘Porky’ pig roast and devouring Tweety Pie and Louie and Frankie for dessert.

I wanted to capitalize on the dragon’s preoccupation. I gave the giant lizard a bit of a warning by shuffling my boots, briefly, in some fallen leaves. The distracted dragon didn’t hear me. He wasn’t listening attentively.

I picked up my long-handled ax and hurled the deadly weapon at the threatening creature. The sharp broad blade on the ax sank deep into the center of the dragon’s chest. The monstrous reptile collapsed in a heap. The dying dragon rolled over with his big, blood-soaked, light-blue belly up.

I walked over to the fallen beast and tapped my right steel boot against the dragon’s upper torso. The dragon exhaled a little puff of white smoke as he took his last breath. Tweety Pie flew away with the tip of the dragon’s tongue clamped tightly in her beak.

I was trying to practice my “listening,” so I was speechless. But I clearly heard Frankie get in the last word, “Come on, Louie. Once again, the show’s over!”

(The moral of this episode: Effective person-to-person communication requires that you develop the ability to listen attentively!)

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