Some times we forget.
When our eyes are drawn up, legitimately, to the bigger problems we focus on the ills of the world. This is good to do, but we also need to take a breath and remember the more personal side. We need to remember not to live our lives only within the scope of the BIG picture. There is a small scale too.
The best way to do this is to shut off the phone. To turn off the TV. To close the laptop.
Go for a walk. Talk to your neighbour. Ask them how they are doing and stay to listen. Connect personally! Call that friend you haven’t talked to in ages. Ask them questions, listen to them.
The personal is important, but it’s less about seeing and knowing and far more about listening.
Listening taps into the divine. When we pray, God listens. When we struggle, God hears. Be the image of God in the world. Listen to others. Don’t judge or expect them to mirror you and your views. Just listen. Learn to be gracious by suspending your thoughts and allowing space for them.
We can bridge the gap if we start to listen.
Psalm 18: 6 In my distress I called to the Lord; I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears.
Roberta Writes 