22 November 2019
Dear Interested Readers,
Listening and Speaking Across Deep Divisions
I think that one of my ministers, Reverend Cindy Johnson, was anticipating the downside of all of the listening that we would be doing this week to the impeachment hearings and the Democratic Presidential Debates when she ascended to the pulpit of our church last Sunday and began her sermon. She introduced her subject by saying:
You and Charles [the Senior MInister who was away] have been traveling through the epistle of James these last weeks. This small little book tucked in the back of the Bible has a timely message to say to us about the power of words.
As she spoke I learned forward and pulled a Bible out of the pew rack in front of me. When I turned to the back of the Bible and found The General Epistle of James, I was reminded that the letter from James is only four pages long, but it contains much wisdom.
Some have compared the wisdom in James to the book of Proverbs in the Hebrew scriptures. It contains many suggestions for how to live. The exact authorship is unknown, though some believe the author to be James the brother of Jesus. The letter was most likely written around the year 60 CE. The middle of the first century was a time of great difficulty and social unrest. Wikipedia gives us a nice summary of the times, and a look at the themes in the short book:
The 50s saw the growth of turmoil and violence in Roman Judea, as Jews became more and more frustrated with corruption, injustice and poverty. It continued into the 60s…War broke out with Rome and would lead to the destruction of Jerusalem and the scattering of the people. The epistle is renowned for exhortations on fighting poverty and caring for the poor in practical ways (1:26–27; 2:1-4; 2:14-19; 5:1-6), standing up for the oppressed (2:1-4; 5:1-6) and not being “like the world” in the way one responds to evil in the world (1:26-27; 2:11; 3:13-18; 4:1-10). Worldly wisdom is rejected and people are exhorted to embrace heavenly wisdom, which includes peacemaking and pursuing righteousness and justice (3:13-18).
I think my minister reasoned that oppression, cruelty, fear, anxiety, material needs, and uncertainty about the future existed then as now, and that humans respond now in ways that are similar to the way our distant ancestors did. Catecholamines were operating then, as they do now, in the fight or flight response. So it is not preposterous to imagine that what was good advice then would work now.
In chapter 1 verse 19 (KJV) we read:
…my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.
I made notes as she spoke. You will see them reflected in a story below:
- Stop using words as a “competitive sport;” use them as a “channel for peace.”
- We are called to listen before we speak.
- Examine the words that come out of your mouth closely.
- Words have the power to destroy-wound-push away.
I have always believed that there is commonly shared wisdom, and commonly shared fears across all cultures. The circumstances may change or vary, but through art and literature we realize that we are moved and repelled by the same things, across most cultures, and down through time. That does not mean that we see things the same through all of our years. Frequently we encounter stories that suggest that young people have a natural wisdom that is lost as we interact with a tough world are moved toward cynicism. It does not take long for us to replace the innocence and natural wisdom of youth with anxiety and the inhibiting fear of adult worries. She illustrated that point with a story from our town.
Only a few weeks ago a group of young people; elementary, middle and high school students gathered to present a forum to our community entitled Compassion in Action. This ecumenical gathering was sponsored by area churches and NH Kids4Peace… Their mission is to bring students together across the globe to engage in conversation as partners in peace through the love of God and a call to action.
On this particular October Saturday morning student leaders gathered to share many of their hope-filled initiatives. These impressive young people are putting faith on its feet in positive life-affirming ways in their schools, this community and in this country. Voices from elementary to high school grades shared their concerns ranging from the issues of gun violence in the schools, to racism, environmental justice, and the need for cross-cultural reconciliation. They spoke in a language of passion – of their legitimate fears and of their fervent hope for a healing of our land and this earth.
Countless research studies have recently asserted, there’s never been a generation more eager than this emerging generation to move from faith as a head-trip to the faith as a way-of-life. This forum certainly supported that research. And if ever we need a generation seeking that change it is now.
When it came time for questions from the audience, adults stood up one by one to express gratitude and respect for these young lives.
What can we do for you? Asked these 60, 70, 80 year old adults in the audience wanting to support the energy and passion of these young people.
What can we do for you? Asked our grey haired Baby Boomer generation of all these Gen Z youths. What can we do to support you?
The response from each of these students, in their own way, was quite simple.
Please listen. Listen to us. Please listen to each other.
One student went on to say…
We hear your generation talk, defend and use words as though they are weapons of defense. Please stop using words as a competitive sport. Use them as channels of peace.
Please listen.
Words have power. The power to create. To create, to connect, to express.
As she finished the little story, I could see heads nodding in affirmation all around the sanctuary.
She continued, making reference to some of the things James offers as advice. Even if religious thought is objectionable to you, I think you will share some of her conclusions:
James does not mince any words. Lest we get too focused on all those other body parts that may lead us astray, it is our tongues we should worry about.
As speaking creatures we have tremendous power of creativity, of expression, of connection. Made in God’s image birthed from a God of creativity, expressive love, connection. Our words have the power to do the same; in our wonder, our dreams, our longings, our love. To each other. To God.
And our words have the power to destroy, to humiliate, shame, wound, exclude and push away.
This gift from God.
Tragically, we are watching our country spew words around, tearing at the very fabric of civility. None of us has to look far to hear or see them. The plethora of media sources, tweets, twitters, microblogs, testifying to the unbridled, run-away tongue.
Like a brush fire that takes hold of brittle undergrowth, words have the power to set destructive flame to the human psyche, precious souls, and the vulnerable heart. We have watched in horror as the power of bullying words have led to hate crimes and the taking of life. We have witnessed the power of words eat away at the moral character of our country.
Remember, she is a minister, addressing “people of faith.” At least half of our nation professes some faith, not to mention the fact that a huge number of our healthcare facilities are “faith based.” I think her question is appropriate to share with everyone, whether or not they self identify as a person of “faith.” She asks:
How can we, people of faith, help our country — and this next generation?
Today’s scripture invites us to consider this.
Be slow to speak. Quick to listen.
Reverend Johnson finished her sermon with a prayer written by Rabbi Zoe Klein from the Temple Isaiah in Los Angeles CA.
May we all be blessed with a listening heart. A heart that listens to the pain of a divided people. A heart that listens for commonalities. A heart that listens to those whose voices are tiny and soft. A heart that listens to the dreams of the poor, the hopes of the young, and the faint prayer of the dying. A heart that listens to the call of the earth and the haunting song of the sea. A heart that listens past language, dialects and differences. A heart that listens to the resounding message of history. A heart that listens to the spirits of our ancestors and the heartbeat of the future.
The message stayed with me as I left the service. It was with me as I listened to the hearings in Washington, and the pundits that tried to explain it all. It was with me as I listened to the Democratic Candidates try to one up one another in their debate. I pondered her message as I thought about the fact that as a profession we have gained the reputation of “cutting off our patients” in just a few seconds as they try to describe their concerns to us.
I think it was Fiona Hill who referenced listening the most in her testimony on Thursday. She referenced on several occasions what she had heard, and what she had done on the basis of the concern that the speaker had raised. In several instances she reread a transcript. She had heard one of her inquisitors reference an article, so she found it and read it. She was very articulate in her descriptions of what she had heard people say, and what she had tried to find in their words. She referenced what she had heard so often that one congressman implied that her testimony was “hearsay.”
Listeners are often moved to action while those who speak and speak often do not much more than talk some more. I think my minister was trying to suggest that listening engenders understanding, empathy and action. Listening validates the person who has something to say.
It always amazes me that when some subject is elevated in your consciousness you see it everywhere. It was true for me on Wednesday night. I have described the “Speakers Series” at Symphony Hall before in these notes. On Wednesday, my wife and I, with our friends who usually go with us, had the pleasure of hearing Bob Woodward speak. Given his experience with Watergate and his long career in investigative journalism, I was not surprised that his subject was a discussion on impeachment with comparison of this moment in time to the NIxon and Clinton events. I heard someone say that he is a better writer than speaker. That’s harsh, but I could counter that he does a fabulous Q&A. He told many stories as examples in the answers he gave to questions submitted by the audience. He spent a long time talking about the wisdom of Katharine Graham, and the managerial skills of Ben Bradlee, but his best answers were the stories that described how he works. As you might guess, he lets people talk. He consciously refrains himself from interrupting the people he interviews by pinching his finger to remind himself to listen, and then the information just comes flowing out.
As I think about all that I have heard this week, I realize that I have even more listening to do, and that as I listen I must be trying to understand what the speaker is saying. Sure, they may be trying to sell something that I am not inclined to buy, like the formulations offered by Ranking Member Devin Nunes, but I still should listen, if for no reason than to recognize his right to have an alternative opinion. I was impressed this week by the observation that two “immigrants,” Dr. Fiona Hill ( read this link) and Lt. Colonel Vindman seemed to have a greater appreciation and understanding of how our system of governance is supposed to work than those of us who have never known any other reality, and take ours for granted.
I do not think we will ever solve the concerns we have in healthcare or have care that is patient centered without improving our listening skills. That’s good Lean philosophy. Lean teaches us to look and listen and try to understand the problem from the perspective of others before we attempt to jump to a solution. We are more likely to listen our way to the Triple Aim than we are to talk our way there. We are motivated to improve what is not working when we listen for the experience of others with the natural empathy of people who care. We had the wisdom of James before we had social media, and before we had the technologies and resources that can be used to heal or ameliorate our illnesses. James suggests that we will never experience all the opportunities we could have until we learn how to listen to one another.
Suddenly, It’s Winter
It was quite a contrast. We left Maui in 85 degree weather and returned to New Hampshire to find temperatures in the teens. We usually fly out of Manchester, but for this trip we took nonstop flights to and from Logan in Boston. Having left Hawaii at about 8 PM last Monday evening Boston time, we arrived at Logan at 6AM on Tuesday. As we drove north on the final leg of our journey home, it became colder and colder, and the snow began to fly. By the time we got home around 10 in the morning there were a couple of inches of fresh snow on the ground and the roads were slush. For the rest of the week it was very cold with a few dips into single digits. It was as if we had left Hawaii in July and had arrived at home in mid February. The lake began to freeze, and then after a brief thaw last Monday which reversed the freeze in some sections of the lake, it snowed again on Tuesday and Wednesday. I took the picture that is today’s header midday on Tuesday.
You can see big flakes of snow that are refreshing the coverage on the ground and lakeside furniture. Now that the threat of bears has been diminished by the cold weather, my bird feeders are up. In the distance there is a little open water that I am sure will close soon. Eventually, the frosting on the lake will be two feet thick. The ice will not melt until late April. It’s a good thing that I like winter because there will be a lot of it.
I like winter hiking. I can hardly wait to don multiple layers of fleece and down, strap on my microspikes, grab my hiking poles, and pull on three pairs of gloves. My biggest challenges in the winter are my mild Raynaud’s and a tendency to fall on hidden patches of ice. The risks from those challenges are well worth taking for the return that I get from pulling the crisp air into my lungs as I walk through a winter wonderland. Perhaps, the best part of the activity is sitting in front of a big fire with friends after the day is done. As I looked out the window on the scene captured in the picture, I knew that all those joys lay in the very near future, and I was excited.
Perhaps this weekend you are headed to Loon, Killington, or some other slope near you to start your ski season. Many of our area ski areas are open, and they will all be open by Thanksgiving. My neighbors have already done more skiing this week than I have done in the last ten years. Who knows, maybe this year I will once again try some of those blue triangle trials over on Mount Sunapee. Whether I ski or not, it’s great to just look out the window and preview the next five months in my mind. Are you making plans for winter adventure?
Be well, take good care of yourself, let me hear from you often, and don’t let anything keep you from doing the good that you can do every day,
Gene
