It has been said that the desire to be heard is among our greatest wants. We ache for this deep, rich connection with others. Reverential Listening, a term I heard Dr. Michael Beckwith use in his Life Visioning Process, is an art form that can be cultivated. And when practiced, it allows us to form an incredible bond with others. As a spiritually conscious being, truly listening to someone may be the greatest gift that you can give – to them and to yourself. Because, in a way, it dissolves the separation between the ‘you’ that you identify with and the ‘other’ that you are listening to. The perceived distance and space between you dissolves.
As we step into reverential listening, our minds and hearts open. We cannot fully hear someone if we are filtering their words through our belief system, in our heads preparing a reply, or listening to them based on our past perceptions of them. Deep reverential listening requires an ardent degree of presence. We must strip ourselves of our judgments. We must meet the speaker with fresh eyes and ears.
As we live Unity’s 2nd Principle, We are Spiritual Beings created in God’s Image. The Spirit of God lives within each person; therefore, all people are inherently good, the art of listening takes on a deeper meaning. Suddenly, we are listening to both the authentic human being speaking but also listening from our essence to their essence. We listen with our hearts!
As a Prayer Chaplain Emeriti at Unity Church of the Hills, I have had the privilege of seeing the perfection in those I pray with at times when they may not be able to see it for themselves. With Reverential Listening, we seek to truly hear what people are saying and understand where they are coming from, but at the same time see beyond the stories to the Truth – that they are created in the image and likeness of the Divine. We practice a balancing act between meeting someone where they are and holding the high ground for them, offering them our hands and hearts in order that they may lift themselves up to meet us. Notice that I wrote ‘they lift themselves up.’ This is the true benefit of Reverential Listening. As someone is truly heard without judgement, they awaken more deeply to their Divine essence and that essence produces the healing which they seek.
Let us all seek to practice this form of listening as we move about the days, weeks and months ahead. Let us model Practicing the Presence of God so that our loved ones and strangers alike can be seen and heard more fully. Namaste.
