Real Listening

Available for over a year

A reflection and prayer to start the day with Dr Geraldine Smyth OP. Good Morning. Many religious traditions set a value on listening – listening for God’s voice, or to the revelations from prophets, priests, sages - as sources of inspiration and courage in times of crisis, In times when plurality and ambiguity vex or confuse – the art of listening may open a way reclaim, reconcile or reimagine what confronts us. Seamus Heaney not knowing where to put an awkward heirloom willed down to him by an aunt probably could find no suitable place for it, but his imagination gave it house-room, transformed into a boat to voyage in and take his post as lookout scanning far horizons: “...Whatever is given Can always be re-imagined, however foursquare, Plank-thick, hull-stupid and out of its time It happens to be.” (“The Settle Bed”). Apparently, the Bible has few instances of the word, “Listen”, whereas 365 for “Hear”. This may reflect the kaleidoscope of world views and varieties of religious experience, or just “treachery” of translation. What is said and what is heard can pass each other by. So better to pass swiftly on. Jewish philosopher, Martin Buber proposes that real listening happens in the reciprocity of an I-Thou dialogue of active attention, and in willingness to embrace the other, in risk, and in openness to the space between. For Buber, if the world is not comprehensible it is embraceable. Such I-Thou relationship with others renders our relationship with God more possible O God may we gather to listen with the ear of our heart to every word of life; Amen.