hello there, friend,
i'm writing this early in the morning after waking at 4:40 to get my oldest off on an 8th grade field trip to washington, dc. i dropped her off and finished listening to a podcast featuring greg boyle, a jesuit priest who works with gangs in los angeles. this is the third time i've listened to him speak. i am moved each time.
he talks about compassion and kinship. he tells stories that make me laugh and cry. he speaks for those in the margins and encourages everyone to think in terms of us, instead of us and them. he believes that we learn as much about healing ourselves when we help others to heal. that true healing is coming back to who we are, who we were created to be.
he quotes alice miller, who says, "we're all called to be enlightened witnesses. people who, through your kindness and tenderness and focused attent of love, return people to themselves. and in the process, you're returned to yourself."
he said that before someone walks into his office he repeats to himself. "now. here. this." i love this mantra. i love thinking about it in two ways. "now. here. this." and "now. hear. this." it can be a challenge to stop the narration in my own head and really listen... fully present. but, when i do, it is a precious and holy gift.
xo,
b
(for those interested, his ted talk and an interview with krista tippett)
