One More Time

Every day, we are challenged to love what we’re given as much as what we want. We don’t have to like the things we’re given, but we need to find a way to accept them. And love is the surest way to deepen our acceptance. And so, we must stay devoted to getting up one more time than we fall down. To waking up one more time than we fall asleep. To being sensitive one more time than we are blunt and cumbersome. To listen one more time than we speak. To hold one more time than we drop what we’re holding. To aspire to be clear one more time than we are confused. To open one more than we close. And to lean into life one more time than we are pushed away. We may not always land in the open, but when we do, the tenderness we find is the earned fragrance of peace.

A Question to Walk With: Describe your struggle between listening and speaking? Which do you need to develop more completely? Name a recent gift that came to you from listening. Then, name a recent gift that came to you for speaking from your heart. How does listening enable you to better speak from your heart? And how does speaking from your heart enable you to better listen?