´óÏó´«Ã½

A spiritual comment and prayer to begin the day with the Revd Carolyn Skinner, CEO of Third Space Ministries

Good morning

Every July the Samaritans have their annual awareness-raising campaign. Their focus is on the importance of talking and on challenging us to become better listeners. They provide fantastic training in active listening. This is listening with the intent to understand the other person fully, rather than listening to respond. It is key to building trust and stronger relationships.

As a chaplain I have seen first-hand the transformational power of active listening. Listening is something so simple and yet so scarce in many people’s lives. Over the last year I’ve been involved in a listening service in a local coffee shop and several times we have heard people say something along the lines of ‘I’m going to leave that little bit lighter because I’ve taken time to talk today.’ It has been interesting to see more people coming in specifically for the purpose of needing to talk and appreciating the space that has been created for that.

Transformation can occur through dramatic life changing conversions, but also through smaller daily more subtle moments. When we offer something of ourselves to help to change someone else’s life we demonstrate just a glimpse of the bigger, transformational power of God and the promise of Jesus in the gospel of John for a life described as abundant and full.

Dear God, thank you that you offer a transformed life, a life in all its fullness. Help us as we seek to offer glimpses of that transformation through things as simple as listening to make a difference in someone’s day. Amen