For this Sunday, September 9th, the focus
for our meditation will be on Listening. We have had this particular topic as a theme
for our meditation practice in the past, but on those instances the emphasis
was on Listening to Spirit. With
the ongoing turmoil in our country I have been thinking about why there is such
a lack of bipartisanship and why our nation is so polarized. In considering the qualities of bipartisanship
there are the elements of having respect for the other party, a willingness to
make needed concessions, and at the root of it all the ability to Listen
and take in what the other person is saying.
We are terrible Listeners.
We tend to leap to assumptions and erroneously fill in gaps and worse
yet never really give the other individual a chance to be heard. We too quickly shut the other person out,
assuming they are not going to contribute anything of value to the
conversation. Under these conditions,
how can honest and effective communication ever take place? Even trained professionals lack this
skill. A study of board-certified family
physicians found as the patient began describing why they sought treatment it
took less than 18 seconds for the doctor to interrupt the patient. Part of this was probably their impatience
given the time constraints of a busy schedule, but as a result they often
missed important information that would have led to better diagnoses and treatment
plans. I think what leads to the
frustration from so many segments of our society is the feeling that they are
not being heard. If we all took the time
to be willing to truly Listen to others, especially those with whom we
disagree, it would help ease so much of the tension and discord we are
experiencing in our country. This week
in our prayer and meditation time let us ask that as a nation we each seek to
become better Listeners. May we
be shown how to graciously give others a chance to actually be heard, and may
our willingness to engage in genuine communication spread to those in
leadership so true bipartisanship behavior can occur.
In our efforts this week let us also continue to use the
energy of our prayers and meditation to amplify the light that covers and fills
this nation. As we perform our meditation
this week let us begin by re-energizing the brilliance and power of the light
we create. Just as before, begin by
forming a concentrated ball of light that is so bright it is almost impossible
to look directly at it. Raise this
sphere of light up high over the nation and then let its rays cascade down to
create a solid, impenetrable dome of light that completely covers every inch of
our country. From shore to shore and
border to border let the entire continent be filled with this brilliant, dense
light that will serve to magnify the best and highest qualities of our country
and the people who live across its vast lands.
Please follow the same practice as before: Get centered in
your body, ask to bring in your guides and others who are there to assist us
and connect to the circle of others participating in this project.
Ask yourself what do I feel in my body when I take time to actually
Listen without judgment to what others
are saying? How does it feel in my body when someone gives me the
courtesy of really Listening to what
I want to say? Then send the energy and intention of those feelings to
the nation.
Be sure to disconnect from the circle at the end and express
thanks for those who have helped us in this effort.
If you have feedback or experiences you would like to share
please let me know via e-mail to kmiritello@gmail.com
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