Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Things I've added to this blog...

I finally have taken the time to do a little updating around here. 

Under "Places to go and people to see...", I have added two links. One is to my Shelfari account. It is a website that allows me to display the books that I have read, the ones I am currently reading and the ones I plan to read in the future. 

The second new link is labeled One Life Letters. At this link you will find a blog that is associated with the workshops and retreats that I lead. This blog consists of posts from many different people. If you have done the Listen To My Life Maps you may find these blog entries a good way to remain engaged in the Listen To My Life thought process. If you have not but are considering the maps, you may find these blog entries helpful towards making a decision.



Friday, March 18, 2011

An Ignatian Prayer that has blessed me

Eternal Lord and King of all creation, humbly I come before you. I am moved by your grace and offer myself to you and to your work. I deeply desire to be with you accepting all wrongs and rejections and all poverty, both actual and spiritual-- I deliberately choose this, if it is for your greater service and praise.

Lord Jesus,
Help me to know you, to love you, to follow you
Help alleviate my fears and fan the embers of trust within me
Give me the strength to say yes to your invitations
the courage to continue my journey with you
Remind me that you are
the Way
the Truth
the Life
and apart from you there is no life
but with you
and you alone
is fullness of life,
everlasting.

Amen

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Good questions

I have been learning how to be a good listener. One of the best clues I have gotten has been to not judge people while they are talking but instead to listen with wonder. Thinking in terms of wonder while I am listening makes it much easier for me to really pay attention to what is being said. I wonder what it is like to be...

Very few people really want you to offer them an opinion. What I also think is interesting about that is very few people actually need my opinion. The opinion we need is the Lord's thoughts and guidance. It seems that as the issue at hand is discussed that often the answer is discovered by the speaker. Sometimes when you listen well. people will invite you to probe with them into new territory. Again not taking control of the conversation but just going where they need to go to discover what they need to discover. Maybe it's wisdom or perspective or hope or how to love.

Sometimes these conversations have an obvious end. There is no more humanly speaking to talk about. There will be no more benefit from talking. And that is my favorite time to then bow our heads and hearts and pray together. To thank God for any help that has come in the conversation and to give up to Him the yet undiscovered answers.

Now that I've been listening to a lot of different people for a while, I am starting to hunger for the ability to ask good or helpful questions. That will be the next focus of my training in listening.

Still realizing that just because you've thought of a good question you may need to wait to ask it somewhere down the line.

I really do think the world would be a better more loving place if there is an increase in good listeners in the world.

To all of you who have spent your time listening to me to help me grow in faith, hope and love... thank you!

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Irish Blessing

May you always have work for your hands to do
May your pockets hold always a coin or two
May the sun shine bright on your windowpane
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain
May the hand of a friend always be near you
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you

- Irish Blessing