Kenny King
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
It is our hope that this note catches you in preparation for Christ the King Sunday and the onset of Advent. It is also a approaching time for the celebration of my ordination to the Sacred Order of Priests in the Anglican / Episcopal Communion. Please join with me on November 30th (St. Andrew's Feast Day) as I continue to rededicate myself to the calling that God has placed before me.
Also this week, please keep me in your prayers, as I have moved to accept a new position in the Diocese of Panama. At the request of the Bishop of Panama, the People of God here in the Provence of Bocas del Toro, and with the grace of God; I am accepting the position of Provencal over the parishes of this region. My new responsibilities will be for the spiritual direction and shepherd for Santa Maria de Virgen, Isla Colon, Bocas Town; St. Jorge's Episcopal Church, Almirante; Transfiguration Episcopal Church, Changrinola; St. Michael's, Guiabito and various preaching stations throughout the Provence. I will be traveling from our home in Almirante throughout the ensuing weeks preaching, celebrating the Eucharist and offering the sacraments to these various communities; and overseeing the operations of these parishes and stations in their day to day activities. Pray for me that I may receive the guidance, wisdom and knowledge to give the People of God the Good News of the Gospel of Christ.
Our lives continue to be extremely busy, as we have had two funerals in the last week and I celebrate the Blessing of a Marriage on December 7th. God continue to grow the Church in this area and the English Only Service begun on Isla Colon now has a regular attendance of North Americans and European Citizens. We continue to be amazed at the grace of God in this ministry.
Our struggles continue as we call the "powers that be" to accountability for their treatment of workers and people of this Provence. We make little, but steady progress, as these powers continue to oppress a people who have little hope for the future of their children. Often now, in the beginning of our rainy season, we struggle for lights and water. When we have two to three boats in port, we loose all power and water so the ships can be supplied by the company. The Company has little regard for life here, and we seem to be a expendable community as we try to educate the children without lights for study at night, water to bathe in or clean dishes or clothes with. Yet there are communities around us that do not have even these basis necessities, mostly the indigenous populations. Pray that God will soften the hearts of the "powers that be" and give them a concern for their fellow human brothers and sisters.
May God continue to Bless and Keep you in your individual ministries and in the work of our beloved parish family. We miss you all greatly and our prayers continue to support you in the work that God has set before you.
Many Blessings,
Fr. Kenny Ryan-King, and Oonagh
Your Missionaries in Panama
"All that is necessary for evil to succeed is for good men to do nothing." Sir Edmund Burke
Monday, November 27, 2006
Searching
Tommy Dillon
A Devotional
A friend of mine has recently had a string of bad dates. In fact they have been so bad, that it caused him to sit down one night and compose a “Dating Creed” and then email it to a group of friends and family. There are 14 points to his creed, but it’s the fourth tenet of his creed that has continuously played in my mind. It reads:
“If you can look around at this planet and still not believe in God,
then you are not the right person for me.”
A holiday can summon a variety of feelings. There are memories of holidays past that no longer represent the way life is now. There are memories of those who will no longer gather around the table with us. There are memories of strained family relationships. However, there is also hope found in the holidays. There is the excitement of a new tradition. There is the excitement of new relationships. There is the excitement of pain overcome.
CNN recently reported that this year Americans will spend $750 million on self-help books, more than $1 billion on motivational speakers and there are more than 100 colleges now offer classes in positive psychology - the science of happiness. The reality is that we are a people in search of happiness looking in many places. Perhaps we need look no further than the world around us. We see God at work in those who will feed the hungry today. We see God at work in the gift of a new life. We see God at work with those who have stood by us in difficult times. If you are struggling today to find what you should be thankful for, I invite you to look, really look, and find where God is at work. My guess is that there are things surrounding you in which to give thanks for. My prayer is that we can find the words to give thanks. This holiday season, I invite you to try Hope for the Holidays.
A Devotional
A friend of mine has recently had a string of bad dates. In fact they have been so bad, that it caused him to sit down one night and compose a “Dating Creed” and then email it to a group of friends and family. There are 14 points to his creed, but it’s the fourth tenet of his creed that has continuously played in my mind. It reads:
“If you can look around at this planet and still not believe in God,
then you are not the right person for me.”
A holiday can summon a variety of feelings. There are memories of holidays past that no longer represent the way life is now. There are memories of those who will no longer gather around the table with us. There are memories of strained family relationships. However, there is also hope found in the holidays. There is the excitement of a new tradition. There is the excitement of new relationships. There is the excitement of pain overcome.
CNN recently reported that this year Americans will spend $750 million on self-help books, more than $1 billion on motivational speakers and there are more than 100 colleges now offer classes in positive psychology - the science of happiness. The reality is that we are a people in search of happiness looking in many places. Perhaps we need look no further than the world around us. We see God at work in those who will feed the hungry today. We see God at work in the gift of a new life. We see God at work with those who have stood by us in difficult times. If you are struggling today to find what you should be thankful for, I invite you to look, really look, and find where God is at work. My guess is that there are things surrounding you in which to give thanks for. My prayer is that we can find the words to give thanks. This holiday season, I invite you to try Hope for the Holidays.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Baby Shower Dec. 3
Debbie Nocero
St. Aidan’s is Hosting a Baby Shower for St. Luke's Hospital
On Sunday, December 3rd at coffee hour
What better way to begin Advent than planning for a child! St. Luke=s Hospital Auxiliary keeps a layette closet of baby gifts for needy moms. Churches around the diocese help keep it filled by hosting baby showers throughout the year. Some moms really need a boost when they are feeling exhausted after giving birth and are facing financial problems ahead. Some are homeless or have special needs, for example, preemies need preemie-sized clothing. When we receive requests from the social workers, the Auxiliary happy to be able to provide a bit of tender loving care for these families and the moms are so grateful to receive some much needed items for their babies.
All items need to be practical and easily washable. Colors are needed for both boys and girls, as well as unisex or bright ones. Our Auxiliary members will put the items together and make an attractive package for the mom, tied with ribbons and a card.
All babies deserve to feel welcomed into this world - with a little help from us.
Needed Baby Items
Receiving blankets
Blankets
Nightgowns
Warm sleepers
Pajamas
Undershirts, Onesies
Disposable diapers
Bibs
Booties, socks
Outer clothing
Sweaters
Hats
Preemie-sized clothing
Baby towels
Wash cloths
Baby wipes
Pacifiers
Burp cloths
Please join us for the festivities!
St. Aidan’s is Hosting a Baby Shower for St. Luke's Hospital
On Sunday, December 3rd at coffee hour
What better way to begin Advent than planning for a child! St. Luke=s Hospital Auxiliary keeps a layette closet of baby gifts for needy moms. Churches around the diocese help keep it filled by hosting baby showers throughout the year. Some moms really need a boost when they are feeling exhausted after giving birth and are facing financial problems ahead. Some are homeless or have special needs, for example, preemies need preemie-sized clothing. When we receive requests from the social workers, the Auxiliary happy to be able to provide a bit of tender loving care for these families and the moms are so grateful to receive some much needed items for their babies.
All items need to be practical and easily washable. Colors are needed for both boys and girls, as well as unisex or bright ones. Our Auxiliary members will put the items together and make an attractive package for the mom, tied with ribbons and a card.
All babies deserve to feel welcomed into this world - with a little help from us.
Needed Baby Items
Receiving blankets
Blankets
Nightgowns
Warm sleepers
Pajamas
Undershirts, Onesies
Disposable diapers
Bibs
Booties, socks
Outer clothing
Sweaters
Hats
Preemie-sized clothing
Baby towels
Wash cloths
Baby wipes
Pacifiers
Burp cloths
Please join us for the festivities!
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Laughter is a Gift from God
Tommy Dillon
A Devotional
One of the things I love about working at St Aidan's is that our staff loves to laugh. If you were to spend the day in our office, you would definitely hear laughter coming from every corner of the building. It’s wonderful, refreshing and most definitely contagious. Sally, Diana, and I laugh much of the
time!
I believe that laughter is a gift from God. In Rick Coram book, It Feels Better When I Laugh, he says this about laughter, “The Great Physician has prescribed laughter as a medicine that is good for us. The happiest place in the community ought to be the place where the body of Christ assembles and celebrates. Of course, there is a time for reverence and quiet. But it is wonderful when the joy of the Lord overflows from the cup and runs into the saucer!
A couple of years ago In my former parish in Baton Rouge. One Sunday morning a bitter old man that looked like he hadn’t smiled in years came up to me and told me that he believed that laughter in the church was offensive to God. With a smile on my face, I replied, “I don’t think laughter offends God, I believe scowling, sneering Christian do.”
So, did Jesus laugh? Of course, because he shared in our humanity. More than this, I believe Jesus engineered laughter from the situations he created and spoke into. And look at the people He hung out with. In particular one of Jesus’ closest friends, the gruff fisherman from Galilee called Peter must surely have kept Jesus in stitches. He got himself into all kinds of trouble: he had a stab at walking on water but soon found out he couldn’t do it as well as Jesus could. On another occasion, having caught no fish all night Peter agreed to the ludicrous suggestion from Jesus to put his net out in deep water, only to catch so many fish that his boat began to sink. Most memorably, at the Transfiguration where Jesus stood in shining light with the prophets Moses and Elijah a dumbstruck Peter made the off-the-wall suggestion to set up three tents for them to stay the night in. I’m sure he teased about this for a long time afterwards.
Always remember to laugh!!!
A Devotional
One of the things I love about working at St Aidan's is that our staff loves to laugh. If you were to spend the day in our office, you would definitely hear laughter coming from every corner of the building. It’s wonderful, refreshing and most definitely contagious. Sally, Diana, and I laugh much of the
time!I believe that laughter is a gift from God. In Rick Coram book, It Feels Better When I Laugh, he says this about laughter, “The Great Physician has prescribed laughter as a medicine that is good for us. The happiest place in the community ought to be the place where the body of Christ assembles and celebrates. Of course, there is a time for reverence and quiet. But it is wonderful when the joy of the Lord overflows from the cup and runs into the saucer!
A couple of years ago In my former parish in Baton Rouge. One Sunday morning a bitter old man that looked like he hadn’t smiled in years came up to me and told me that he believed that laughter in the church was offensive to God. With a smile on my face, I replied, “I don’t think laughter offends God, I believe scowling, sneering Christian do.”
So, did Jesus laugh? Of course, because he shared in our humanity. More than this, I believe Jesus engineered laughter from the situations he created and spoke into. And look at the people He hung out with. In particular one of Jesus’ closest friends, the gruff fisherman from Galilee called Peter must surely have kept Jesus in stitches. He got himself into all kinds of trouble: he had a stab at walking on water but soon found out he couldn’t do it as well as Jesus could. On another occasion, having caught no fish all night Peter agreed to the ludicrous suggestion from Jesus to put his net out in deep water, only to catch so many fish that his boat began to sink. Most memorably, at the Transfiguration where Jesus stood in shining light with the prophets Moses and Elijah a dumbstruck Peter made the off-the-wall suggestion to set up three tents for them to stay the night in. I’m sure he teased about this for a long time afterwards.
Always remember to laugh!!!
All Saints' Day
Kirstin Paisley
Sermon from Sunday, November 5, 2006
Matthew 5:1-12
Wow. It’s All Saints Day. It’s fall in California!
This is the day when we remember all who came before us.
We praise famous, and not-so-famous, people.
We think about what it means to honor them, with our lips and in our lives.
People jump into our minds at odd moments,
and we wish them happiness and love.
We send out a quick thank-you for the ones we love,
as we go back to studying or washing the dishes.
We might notice a grandparent in a child’s smile.
We remember, in turn, who we are,
whose we are,
and how we are called to live.
The first record of a feast set aside to commemorate all the saints
dates from before the year 270,
in a work by Gregory the Wonder-Worker, a bishop in Greece.
The date was fixed to November 1 in the eighth century.
This is our way of honoring our ancestors.
We’ve been doing it for a very long time.
What is a saint?
Is it someone who lived a legendarily perfect life,
and died centuries ago in the service of the faith?
Is it someone about whom we tell miracle stories?
Is it the statue under the birdbath in the yard?
The catechism in the Book of Common Prayer says this about sainthood:
“The communion of saints is the whole family of God,
the living and the dead, those whom we love and those whom we hurt,
bound together in Christ by sacrament, prayer, and praise.”
Saints are the faces on the icons,
and the names forgotten centuries ago.
Theirs are the stories we tell once a year on their feast days,
and the stories remembered only by their children.
We are the babies of the family.
Ours is an ancient line of love and faith,
seeking and finding,
wrestling with and celebrating God.
This is a time to honor our own pantheons,
as well as those individuals specifically mentioned by the church.
Not only Aidan, monk, missionary bishop, and generous soul,
but Dymphna—patron of madness and also, for us, of creative chaos,
amazing organizational skills, drag-queen nuns, and children.
Not only Francis, who loved peace, practiced radical poverty,
and kissed a leper on the street—
but all who have lived and died and worked and played
and loved in this city.
I honor friends right here, who have welcomed me, laughed with me,
taught me a new skill, and helped me through a difficult time.
I honor a woman I never knew in the town I came from,
who roused her friends to create a flock of doves out of paper mache,
old sheets, glitter, paint, and glue.
They marched in an annual street fair celebrating life,
the year before she died on Palestinian soil.
I honor her parents, who carry on Rachel’s work
and who have become good friends to me.
I honor a child I cared for when I was just out of college.
She’s a self-conscious thirteen-year-old now;
she no longer jumps into my arms when she sees me.
But she taught me more about joyful assertiveness than anyone has,
before she even turned two.
I honor Mary, the bearer of God, saying yes to wild possibility.
I honor Mary Magdalene, first, vocal, witness to the resurrected Christ.
I honor Thomas, who honored his own need to see and touch
the resurrected Christ for himself.
I honor all those who serve the San Francisco Night Ministry,
and who give their time by volunteering anywhere
in the service of God’s people and creation.
I honor those, too numerous to mention, following their faith
with thoughtful abandon,
stepping out bravely and joyfully into new ministries,
serving the God who calls us all to be our true selves.
Who do you honor today? How do they help you hear the call of God?
How do they encourage you to shine your light for others?
Saints are the holy ones, and saints are all of us. What is holiness?
Jesus said,
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Blessed are the ones who are not attached to material things,
or financial security,
for they will find freedom in the generosity of God.
These are the ones who can share what they have,
with others who need even more than they.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Blessed are those who can feel their true feelings,
who can grieve and cry without shame.
They have the courage to ask for the comfort that they need.
When others need to be held, or rocked, or listened to,
these are the ones who have the strength to give that.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
Blessed are the ones who meet anger not with posturing and threats,
but with openhearted, unreserved love.
These are the ones who can heal the ruptures in this world.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
Blessed are those who seek God through working for justice on this earth.
The power of God will be with them
like a mighty stream.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.”
Blessed are the ones who can reach out with love and offers of forgiveness,
for they too will be loved and forgiven.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
Blessed are the ones who are not complicated by greed,
hunger for power,
or any wrong attachments.
These are the ones who can pray in silence.
These are the ones who can be still, in their bodies and souls,
and make space for the love of God to fill them.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
Blessed are the ones who work to heal divisions
between all peoples of the earth.
This is the work of shalom to which God calls us;
when we do it, we live into our call to be co-creators of the Kindom.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
God is with us in our hurt and fear and pain,
as much as God is with us in our joy.
God knows our deepest intentions, and God loves us immeasurably.
God “gets” who we are.
In a time when it was physically dangerous
to practice a countercultural faith,
Jesus was assuring his listeners that God was present with them,
even in their suffering.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
The work we do here matters.
Our lives matter.
The love of God, shining through us, matters.
Shalom is a Hebrew word that means more than peace;
it means wholeness, completeness, union with one another and with God.
Our new Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori,
preached yesterday on what it means to embody the concept of shalom.
She said,
“The ability of any of us to enjoy shalom depends on the health of our neighbors. If some do not have the opportunity for health or wholeness, then none of us can enjoy true and perfect holiness. The writer of Ephesians implores us to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace – to be at one in God's shalom. That is our baptismal task and hope, and unless each of the members of the body enjoys shalom we shall not live as one. That dream of God, that word of God spoken in each one of us at baptism also speaks hope of its realization.”
We are given the work of holiness at baptism,
the very moment at which we enter the communion of saints.
When we do this work,
we affirm the love, the creativity, and the reconciling power of God.
Today we celebrate the Feast of All Saints.
Our cloud of witnesses is right here with us.
Let us do the work that God has created us to do.
Let us be who God has called us to be.
We are the family of God.
Sermon from Sunday, November 5, 2006
Matthew 5:1-12
Wow. It’s All Saints Day. It’s fall in California!
This is the day when we remember all who came before us.
We praise famous, and not-so-famous, people.
We think about what it means to honor them, with our lips and in our lives.
People jump into our minds at odd moments,
and we wish them happiness and love.
We send out a quick thank-you for the ones we love,
as we go back to studying or washing the dishes.
We might notice a grandparent in a child’s smile.
We remember, in turn, who we are,
whose we are,
and how we are called to live.
The first record of a feast set aside to commemorate all the saints
dates from before the year 270,
in a work by Gregory the Wonder-Worker, a bishop in Greece.
The date was fixed to November 1 in the eighth century.
This is our way of honoring our ancestors.
We’ve been doing it for a very long time.
What is a saint?
Is it someone who lived a legendarily perfect life,
and died centuries ago in the service of the faith?
Is it someone about whom we tell miracle stories?
Is it the statue under the birdbath in the yard?
The catechism in the Book of Common Prayer says this about sainthood:
“The communion of saints is the whole family of God,
the living and the dead, those whom we love and those whom we hurt,
bound together in Christ by sacrament, prayer, and praise.”
Saints are the faces on the icons,
and the names forgotten centuries ago.
Theirs are the stories we tell once a year on their feast days,
and the stories remembered only by their children.
We are the babies of the family.
Ours is an ancient line of love and faith,
seeking and finding,
wrestling with and celebrating God.
This is a time to honor our own pantheons,
as well as those individuals specifically mentioned by the church.
Not only Aidan, monk, missionary bishop, and generous soul,
but Dymphna—patron of madness and also, for us, of creative chaos,
amazing organizational skills, drag-queen nuns, and children.
Not only Francis, who loved peace, practiced radical poverty,
and kissed a leper on the street—
but all who have lived and died and worked and played
and loved in this city.
I honor friends right here, who have welcomed me, laughed with me,
taught me a new skill, and helped me through a difficult time.
I honor a woman I never knew in the town I came from,
who roused her friends to create a flock of doves out of paper mache,
old sheets, glitter, paint, and glue.
They marched in an annual street fair celebrating life,
the year before she died on Palestinian soil.
I honor her parents, who carry on Rachel’s work
and who have become good friends to me.
I honor a child I cared for when I was just out of college.
She’s a self-conscious thirteen-year-old now;
she no longer jumps into my arms when she sees me.
But she taught me more about joyful assertiveness than anyone has,
before she even turned two.
I honor Mary, the bearer of God, saying yes to wild possibility.
I honor Mary Magdalene, first, vocal, witness to the resurrected Christ.
I honor Thomas, who honored his own need to see and touch
the resurrected Christ for himself.
I honor all those who serve the San Francisco Night Ministry,
and who give their time by volunteering anywhere
in the service of God’s people and creation.
I honor those, too numerous to mention, following their faith
with thoughtful abandon,
stepping out bravely and joyfully into new ministries,
serving the God who calls us all to be our true selves.
Who do you honor today? How do they help you hear the call of God?
How do they encourage you to shine your light for others?
Saints are the holy ones, and saints are all of us. What is holiness?
Jesus said,
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
Blessed are the ones who are not attached to material things,
or financial security,
for they will find freedom in the generosity of God.
These are the ones who can share what they have,
with others who need even more than they.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”
Blessed are those who can feel their true feelings,
who can grieve and cry without shame.
They have the courage to ask for the comfort that they need.
When others need to be held, or rocked, or listened to,
these are the ones who have the strength to give that.
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”
Blessed are the ones who meet anger not with posturing and threats,
but with openhearted, unreserved love.
These are the ones who can heal the ruptures in this world.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
Blessed are those who seek God through working for justice on this earth.
The power of God will be with them
like a mighty stream.
“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.”
Blessed are the ones who can reach out with love and offers of forgiveness,
for they too will be loved and forgiven.
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”
Blessed are the ones who are not complicated by greed,
hunger for power,
or any wrong attachments.
These are the ones who can pray in silence.
These are the ones who can be still, in their bodies and souls,
and make space for the love of God to fill them.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
Blessed are the ones who work to heal divisions
between all peoples of the earth.
This is the work of shalom to which God calls us;
when we do it, we live into our call to be co-creators of the Kindom.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
God is with us in our hurt and fear and pain,
as much as God is with us in our joy.
God knows our deepest intentions, and God loves us immeasurably.
God “gets” who we are.
In a time when it was physically dangerous
to practice a countercultural faith,
Jesus was assuring his listeners that God was present with them,
even in their suffering.
“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”
The work we do here matters.
Our lives matter.
The love of God, shining through us, matters.
Shalom is a Hebrew word that means more than peace;
it means wholeness, completeness, union with one another and with God.
Our new Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori,
preached yesterday on what it means to embody the concept of shalom.
She said,
“The ability of any of us to enjoy shalom depends on the health of our neighbors. If some do not have the opportunity for health or wholeness, then none of us can enjoy true and perfect holiness. The writer of Ephesians implores us to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace – to be at one in God's shalom. That is our baptismal task and hope, and unless each of the members of the body enjoys shalom we shall not live as one. That dream of God, that word of God spoken in each one of us at baptism also speaks hope of its realization.”
We are given the work of holiness at baptism,
the very moment at which we enter the communion of saints.
When we do this work,
we affirm the love, the creativity, and the reconciling power of God.
Today we celebrate the Feast of All Saints.
Our cloud of witnesses is right here with us.
Let us do the work that God has created us to do.
Let us be who God has called us to be.
We are the family of God.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Holy Listening
Tommy Dillon
Some of my fondest memories from childhood are of sitting with my grandmother Keet at her table in the kitchen of her Tulsa home. There was always something good to eat—pound cake with homemade butter or tomatoes from my grandfather's garden-- but even more special was a quality of attentiveness that she possessed. As she listened to my chatting about this and that, she acted as if being with me were the most important thing she could be doing at the time. She taught me that listening is an act of love.
Such responsiveness is rare in our culture where we talk too much and listen too little. We all know how minimizing it is to try to share something with someone who is half-distracted, too busy or just waiting until they can get their point out. Contrastingly, how affirming it is to be with one who attends fully and respectfully to what we are saying.
The healing dimensions of being listened to are significant. Those suffering from loss or recovering from woundedness need to tell their story again and again, re-entering it, piecing together the fragments of memory. In the sacred presence of a witness, a companion who truly listens, isolation is diminished and connection to the human community is restored. Often it’s not really as much what we say in such times as a quality of caring presence. Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen suggests, “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 be able to hear, in everyone and beyond everyone, the unseen singing softly to itself and to you.”
The Rule of St. Benedict suggests that prayer is “listening with the ear of the heart.” He means, of course, listening for the still, small voice of God. But I believe that it is also true that we pray with one another when we hear a person’s story as sacred, when we hear with the ear of our heart.
Some of my fondest memories from childhood are of sitting with my grandmother Keet at her table in the kitchen of her Tulsa home. There was always something good to eat—pound cake with homemade butter or tomatoes from my grandfather's garden-- but even more special was a quality of attentiveness that she possessed. As she listened to my chatting about this and that, she acted as if being with me were the most important thing she could be doing at the time. She taught me that listening is an act of love.
Such responsiveness is rare in our culture where we talk too much and listen too little. We all know how minimizing it is to try to share something with someone who is half-distracted, too busy or just waiting until they can get their point out. Contrastingly, how affirming it is to be with one who attends fully and respectfully to what we are saying.
The healing dimensions of being listened to are significant. Those suffering from loss or recovering from woundedness need to tell their story again and again, re-entering it, piecing together the fragments of memory. In the sacred presence of a witness, a companion who truly listens, isolation is diminished and connection to the human community is restored. Often it’s not really as much what we say in such times as a quality of caring presence. Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen suggests, “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 be able to hear, in everyone and beyond everyone, the unseen singing softly to itself and to you.”
The Rule of St. Benedict suggests that prayer is “listening with the ear of the heart.” He means, of course, listening for the still, small voice of God. But I believe that it is also true that we pray with one another when we hear a person’s story as sacred, when we hear with the ear of our heart.
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