“Listen carefully, my child, to my instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart. This is advice from one who loves you; welcome it, and faithfully put it into practice.” Prologue 1
Cross-Cultural Listening
from the heart
The Whys and Whats of Listening
Why should we listen carefully? To whom or are we to listen attentively?
These first question can be answered very simply.
We listen attentively to find out what God is asking us
to be, to do, or to learn.
The second question may be answered simply also.
We listen for God’s direction in all the encounters with others and in all circumstances of our lives.
[1] Jane Tomaine, St. Benedict’s Toolbox: The Nuts and Bolts of Everyday Benedictine Living, 10th anniv. rev. ed. (New York: Morehouse Publishing, 2015), 78.
[2] Paschal G. Cheline, “Holiness of Heart and Mind: A Benedictine Perspective,” Asbury Theological Journal (fall–spring 1995–96): 236.
[3] Henri Nouwen, Bread for the Journey: A Daybook of Wisdom and Faith, (San Francisco, CA: Harper Publishing, 1997), March 11.
[4] Loc. cit.
[5] Loc.cit.
© March, 2023 Jane Tomaine