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DAVID BENTLEY'S WEEKLY COLUMN |
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THE LISTENING HEART
Around Christmas, a friend dropped by my office. He was carrying a case which made me think of a trumpet. When he opened it and unwrapped the contents, I saw an interesting collection of beautifully sculpted wooden hearts. Made from various types of wood, several had distinctive scents. Before I could ask the obvious question, my friend announced, "They're listening hearts." He explained that just as the American Indian talking stick allows only one person at a time to speak, a listening heart reminds listeners to listen with heartfelt intention and without interruption. Holding the heart and rubbing it gently helps the listener remain calm and relaxed. I heard what my friend was saying, but I didn't really listen. I was too busy with deadlines and the usual holiday clamor. The wooden hearts were beautiful. They fit nicely in the palm of my hand, and the scents were pleasant as I rubbed them. He offered to leave one with me, but I was afraid of losing it in my rushing about. Since then, I've thought about listening hearts often. I saw my friend at the post office recently, and he had a listening heart in his coat pocket. He let me hold it while we waited in line to buy stamps. It felt good in my hand, and I found myself quietly listening to the hubbub around me. I was not talking, and even my head was silent. Kerri Wyatt Kent, a writer and speaker, has said that a listening heart requires silence. Brother David Steindl-Rast, a Benedictine Monk, has written that "Our ears hear, but only a listening heart understands." In this modern world of haste and sound bite rhetoric, it is very difficult to find enough tranquility to discern the truth. I need to remind myself to be silent and understand with my own listening heart.
© 2005 David Bentley David Bentley, M.Ed. & Personal Coach, coaches clients through the game of life, helping them find balance, clarity of direction, and purpose in an ever-changing world. You may contact him at 360.378.8436 by e-mail at david@coachbentley.com or visit his Web site: www.coachbentley.com |
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