Monday, November 4, 2013

Listening

A very pleasant and quiet day.  For Maria and myself, the process of preparation for moving involves a lot of clearing out of un-needed items, both physically and emotionally, a sort of cleansing.  For the moment, that seems to be done.
During a group I led yesterday, the participants were all compassionate, understanding and respectful of each other.  During the group they made an obvious effort to be cooperative and to be of service to each other.  According to staff comments and reports, they were not at all like that before or after group.  I am reminded of the comments of Remen in My Grandfather’s Blessings, “When you listen, the integrity and wholeness in others moves closer.  Your attention strengthens it and makes it easier for them to hear it in themselves.  In your presence, they can more easily inhabit that in them which is beyond their limitations, a place of greater freedom and sanctuary.  Eventually they may be able to live there.”