Poetry ~ Cabbage After Christmas

The first duty of love is to listen. 

Paul Tillich

Personal Note:  I don’t believe or agree with everything Paul Tillich believed, but this quote resonates in me.  Maybe because this is the season of Lent–and I’m rereading several of Max Lucado’s books about Christ’s walk to the Cross–Tillich’s words got me thinking in the midnight hour…

Sometimes people just need to talk (whether they are strangers or folks we know)–and when we listen to someone, really listen, it expresses love which respects and values the person we’ve chosen to give our attention to…even if only for 5 or 10 minutes.  It’s one of those “little” things that could hold far greater importance than we imagine to a person we–perhaps unexpectedly–feel urged to stop for…rather than pass by.

I confess I’m not always a good listener (I’ll further admit I’m not much of a ‘people-person’)…I get busy being self-consumed, and avoid or brush-off folks.  If I paused and looked into their eyes, I might see their longing to simply be heard. 

During His brief years on Earth, Jesus did a lot of stopping for people–He was very intentional in His contacts, connections.  Busy as He was, He always had more than enough time to see them and listen–because He had a heart for people. 

My life isn’t as imperatively scheduled as His was.  I need to slow down, make a change…if I’m serious about following Christ, loving as He did, reflecting God’s love.

~ Cale