Greetings, Peace to you and God's blessings.
It has been some time since I last wrote in this blog. Quite frankly, the time has gotten away from me and this poor little blog had fallen out of sight and out of mind.
I was recently reminded that I have a blog and that I had not posted anything for some time now. The reality is that I haven't really posted on any of my social media, at least not to the degree that I once did. I think this is due in part to the fact that I have been very intentional about writing in my journal at both Morning and Evening prayer. This has helped greatly and has organized my thoughts and feelings into a place where I am better able to then face the world.
That being said, however, I thought it would be important to write here today. Throughout this time of the pandemic, I have been trying to be a minister to people in so many different aspects. I find that I have been listening more and trying to be present to people on a different level. Perhaps because of Zoom fatigue or some other result of our physical distancing, I have found that more people approach me and want to be listened to. Note that I say that they want to be listened to, and not that they want to talk. As I have found, and perhaps this is not an enlightened idea at all, just a new discovery for me, but more and more I have found that people have stories to tell and want to be heard. Even those people that we may consider "hateful and rude," yes, even they have stories, and sometimes listening to them helps bring about a different result from yelling back. This intentional listening has been challenging for me, and more than that, it has moved me to really put my money where my mouth is. As you may know, I often share my little saying with people "You are beautiful. You are loved." This is a truth that I discovered about myself and one that I want to share with others, but handing out a cute little quip is one thing, what does it look like to actually sit and give someone a space to share their story, how do I love a person whose only understood way of communicating is by yelling? Honestly, I don't know, but then again that is where love comes in. In love, I believe that I am meant to sit with another person and if becoming a pin cushion for them is what it takes for them to realize that I love them, then so be it. I think St. Paul may have done something to this effect when he spoke of being "all things for all people." (1 Corinthians 9:19-23) I especially wonder about this as I see more people on the news looking at each other in anger and suspicion. Now, don't get me wrong, this does not mean that I will not stand for that which is right, I certainly will and I believe that love demands that I do so, what I mean, though is that instead of falling into an endless cycle of gratuitous yelling, I believe that I am being called to listen. I want to listen and that is what I hope to do. In loving, I shall listen, and maybe, in the grand scheme of things, all we need to do is listen to others and share our stories.
Someone asked me today if I ever get tired of listening to people share their stories, I simply said "no." I want to listen and maybe in listening, the world will be changed just a little bit.
As always, thank you for your time and know that I truly believe it, "You are beautiful. You are loved."
