daily reflection
To listen is very hard, because it asks of us so much interior stability that we no longer need to prove ourselves by speeches, arguments, statements, or declarations. True listeners no longer have an inner need to make their presence known. They are free to receive, to welcome, to accept.
Listening is much more than allowing another to talk while waiting for a chance to respond. Listening is paying full attention to others and welcoming them into our very beings. The beauty of listening is that, those who are listened to start feeling accepted, start taking their words more seriously and discovering their own true selves. Listening is a form of spiritual hospitality by which you invite strangers to become friends, to get to know their inner selves more fully, and even to dare to be silent with you.
~*~*~*~
do i ever need work in this area...oh, i can listen alright. it's taming the facial expressions if i am bored, exasperated that i have a hard time doing. i suppose i need to learn how to bring my face into subjection :)
of course, when i read something like this, i equate it to my life with helen, especially the last line --
Listening is a form of spiritual hospitality by which you invite strangers to become friends, to get to know their inner selves more fully, and even to dare to be silent with you.who wouldn't want to practice *spiritual hospitality?*
is not the deeper question to myself whether or not i actually want to get to know helen's inner self more fully?
and forgive me, Lord, but would i ever want to dare her to be silent!! (fresh, i know, but true)... Lord, change my heart and have me be the fully-present, ever-listening penni that you want me to be.
feel free to comment. chances are good that i won't respond, but rest assured, i'll just be sitting here, listening....
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