LesleyBrogan
LesleyBrogan
  • Home
  • Advent 2020
  • Lent 2020
  • Lent 2019
  • Writings from 2019
  • Lent 2018
  • Advent 2017
  • Lesley's Blog: Holding On and Letting Go
  • Relying on the Moon: Companioning Grief for 29 Days
    • Relying on the Moon (book excerpt)
    • White Horse Questions
    • 2014 Advent Daily Readings
  • Advent 2018
  • Traveling This Tender Advent
  • Home
  • Advent 2020
  • Lent 2020
  • Lent 2019
  • Writings from 2019
  • Lent 2018
  • Advent 2017
  • Lesley's Blog: Holding On and Letting Go
  • Relying on the Moon: Companioning Grief for 29 Days
    • Relying on the Moon (book excerpt)
    • White Horse Questions
    • 2014 Advent Daily Readings
  • Advent 2018
  • Traveling This Tender Advent

Holding On and Letting Go

Tuesday, March 25th "Holy Listening"

3/25/2014

0 Comments

 
Picture
Breath Prayer: “I am”      “listening”

     What makes listening holy? How is `holy listening’ any different than other listening?  years ago I taught a Supervised Ministry class at Candler School of Theology.  As teacher, I chose the topic. I chose the one act never formally addressed: listening.

      For a semester the twelve students were divided into “A’s” and “B’s” and paired one with another. First the “A’s” were all asked a question (“how did you feel the first time you walked into the room filled with folks with Alzheimer’s?”) and then given 10 minutes to answer. “B’s” were asked to listen. As tempted as they were to engage, to interrupt, to elaborate, they couldn’t. They were asked to only listen. After the 10 minutes passed, then the “B’s” were given 5 minutes to tell the “A’s” where they heard God in those past 10 minutes. And then we switched up, B’s talking and A’s listening. 

     It was impossible. It was irritating. The students hated it…for most of the semester. And then, somehow, something shifted. For the whole class. Where there had earlier been tapping of toes, wriggling in seats, watching of watches and audible sighs, there entered into the room we all shared a quiet. After weeks of practicing this listening for God and not talking-over another, there was a peace that came. Somewhere in those weeks together, we had been reminded of the gift of listening for God in another’s story.

Prayer: Still Speaking God, we are listening for you this day. May our spirits quiet enough us that we hear with our hearts. May our thoughts be still so that we may be open to what is coming afresh to us. May we be renewed in your living word this day, new every morning. We give you thanks, Amen.


0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Lesley Brogan

    Working in Family Experience at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Lesley is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ.  A Candler School of Theology graduate, Lesley has just published her second book, Grief and the Psalms: Companioning the Moon for 29 Days (available on this website). She and her partner, Linda Ellis are raising their two sons, Brogan and Sam in Decatur, GA.

    Archives

    April 2018
    May 2017
    April 2017
    July 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed