"The first duty of love is to listen."
~ Paul Tillich
What first came to mind as you read the above quote?
For me it was to listen better to my spouse, my
children, all my family and friends, and on to all people in order to understand. Basically, to listen better in order to better understand.
And then, as often happens for me, a song played in my mind. This song is Listen by the Monks of the Weston Priory.
The lyrics begin...
Listen and gentle be present
to all you’ve ever
close kept in your loving heart!
Try to remember the moment
when you felt clearly the gift to be truly alive.
Often look up
and see the splendor
of life suspended
in your heart and mind so longing
to be forever alive in this moment’s stillness:
the thrush echoes your delight.
Today, moved by love and with love, listen...
to one another
to the
thrush
the blackbird
the crow
to the rustling of wind moving through trees
to the barking of dogs
the meowing of cats
to a song you love
to how
you are being guided.
Listening,
Charlene
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