大象传媒

A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with the Rev Carolyn Skinner.

Good morning.

I recently heard about 鈥榣istening benches鈥� which have been placed in cities across the UK to encourage people to strike up a conversation. The benches offer people somewhere to sit down and chat with strangers in a bid to tackle loneliness. According to one 2019 survey, 25% of adults between the ages of 18 and 27 reported having no close friends, while 22% reported having no friends at all. There鈥檚 a lot to be said for listening.

Part of my day job involves me serving in a listening service at a caf茅 which we call Space to Talk and recently a member of the public expressed his appreciation and described it as the 鈥榣uxury of being listened to.鈥� A statement which is so indicative of our society. Christian philosopher Dallas Willard writes 鈥渉ow rarely are we ever truly listened to and how deep is our need. I wonder how much wrath in human life is a result of not being heard.鈥�

Part of my role as a sports chaplain is to take the time to listen, in a non-judgmental, non-rushed way. As I do so I represent the compassion of God.

As it says in Psalm 116:

鈥業 love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.鈥�
Loving God, I thank you that you are a God who cares for us so deeply that you will incline your ear towards us, you give us your full attention. May we also share the luxury of listening to someone who crosses our path today.

Amen