Holy listening
“Listening creates a holy silence. When you listen generously to people, they can hear truth in themselves, often for the first time. And in the silence of listening, you can know yourself in everyone. Eventually you may hear, in everyone and beyond everyone, the Unseen singing softly to itself and you.”—Rachel Naomi Remen, Kitchen Table Wisdom from InwardOuward.org, Church of the Saviour Daily Quote.
One of my partners at work gave me this book by Rachel Remen, another physician, who writes about the spiritual life in the ordinary. I remember the book, but I also remember the kindness of the giver. I offer thanks for him and the times, often very holy, that we had together. I have learned that books are meaningful to me not only for what is in them, but also for the person who gifted the book.
We have talked a great deal previously about holy listening, especially from Margaret Guenther and her book Holy Listening, the Art of Spiritual Direction. The message I keep hearing this Advent is to make sacred listening with those I disagree with as part of my Advent discipline. For example, for brief periods, my husband and I listen to a news program that tells a different story than what we usually hear. How do we then learn and search for the truth? I don’t know that answer, but at least hearing a different story and a different interpretation of what is happening can help us understand why others believe what they do.
There is also another setting where I am trying to be a holy listener. I often find myself with people who speak up too often, and sometimes have what I interpret as boring words to offer. In the past, I would cut them off and try to escape from the conversation. During this season, I have been trying to listen and listen for the Christ within them.
I know I have difficulty seeing and hearing Christ in them when I have lost my connection to Christ within myself. It is Christ, the God, the holy, the Spirit within us that can make that sacred contact. I think that is our job. If we stay connected to the God within, we will discern the answers we hear in holy listening and enter into relationships with those so different.
I am holding on to this hope.
Joanna. Joannaseibert.com
