It is that time again. Each fall for the past decade our congregation has stepped into spiritual growth. One year the topic was mindfulness. This week we begin to explore listening. For over a month our small group will ponder the meaning and application of what it means to attend.

 

It is not as if such subjects can be mastered, like when you ace an exam in Biology 101. Answer every question correctly. Know the material cold. Plus when you sit down hunched over a desk with a number two pencil you know that mitochondria is on the test. 

 

I suppose that part of the challenge is because good listening is not simply something you memorize. Theories to recite. It is a quality you assimilate into your way of being. Compassion melds with your vocabulary, centers your eyeballs when they want to roll, soaks into the crinkle of your eyebrows. Keeps your hands off your hips. 

 

Life has a tricky way of camouflaging distractions. Shading them with innocuous designs. Hijacking attention. Using someone's share as a jumping point to grab the narrative.  

 

What I hope to unpack in a season of focused attention, is the chance to step closer to people whose dearest gift is to be genuine.