Heart Talk

Trudging on the road of life 
Occasion brings gifts of surprise
A person with a heart that can 
Truly listen, understand

How oft when words are flung out loud
Meaning’s lost in vocal air 
Translation haps before the thought 
Has fully landed on listener’s ear 

To listen well one must set aside 
Opinions, preplanned thoughts, retorts 
To hear the heartbeat of the talk 
To catch the meaning e’re it’s lost 

LORD, give me ears to truly hear
What’s being said when someone speaks 
Make a way for truth to shine
Bring solace to our hearts and minds 

And as we unpack burdens long 
Held tightly, stuffed down deep inside 
A lightness, spirit freedom comes
Joy begins to magnify 

Give us courage, LORD, to share 
To rid ourselves of grievous woes
With wisdom bring those hearts who care
To speak new life, new hope to bear 


Note: References about listening are from Madeleine L’Engle, Trailing Clouds of Glory, pg. 47:
   “We have become over casual in our rituals of greeting and leavetaking, blessing and even reviling. We focus on our own gesture, rather than the need, intent, response of the other . . . 
The scribes and Pharisees tended to look at people and see where they ought to be. Jesus looked at people and saw where they were.”