MESSAGE
A summary of the message delivered on January 4, 2015
Jesus talked a lot in his ministry about the value of listening. In Mark 8 and Matthew 13 he said, “You have ears, but you do not hear.” We all have the capacity to hear, but many of us just simply don’t listen.
Listening is a very important life skill and spiritual practice. When we don’t listen, we miss out on a lot. We miss out on connecting with people who may be hurting or in need. We miss out on intimacy and understanding of the people in our lives. Failing to listen can also create misunderstanding, disconnect and separation. We miss out on all sorts of insight and wisdom by not listening … because the more we listen, the better we understand, and the better decisions we make. The more we listen, the more clarity we have. The more we listen, the more we open ourselves to insight, inspiration and understanding.
How well do you listen? On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you listen to your partner or spouse? To your parents, children and family members? To your co-workers? How well do you listen to your friends? And how well do you listen to yourself? How well do you listen to your heart and body, and your inner wisdom and intuition? How well do you listen to God?
Most of us could do a much better job of listening in all the areas of our lives. Our culture tends to value speaking over listening. Speaking is seen as powerful, prestigious and important, while listening is often viewed as passive and weak. In most conversations, we are either speaking or waiting to speak. Rather than really listening when others are talking, we’re usually just thinking about what we’re going to say next.
We are also distracted by all the mental noise in heads: worrying about the future or regretting the past. Our heads are so full of negative chatter that there’s little space for anything else. And even when we can quiet our minds, most of us are uncomfortable with silence; being silent feels awkward and uncomfortable. Yet in order to go spiritually deeper, we have to experience silence. Scripture tells us, “Be still and know that I am God.”
We believe the greatest commandment is to love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself. The great theologian Paul Tillich said that listening is the first law of love. So, if that is true, look what happens when we apply the word “listen” to those commandments … the greatest thing we can do is to listen to God with all our hearts, minds, soul and strength, and to listen to others as we listen to ourselves.
Listening truly is one of the most loving things we can do. Listening to others truly creates a connection and a bond of love between all the people in our lives. Listening says, “I’m interested in you. I find you valuable and important. I care about what you think and feel.” Having someone listen to us makes us feel loved, supported and appreciated … it heals our hurts, opens our hearts and inspires us to step into our highest selves. Moreover, listening to ourselves is one of the greatest acts of self love. Listening to what our hearts wants and what our souls are saying helps us to better embrace our true selves and live more authentic and fulfilling lives.
At the beginning of a new year, we want to just start running toward new goals and possibilities … and that’s great! We believe that hard work, determination, will and persistence are what will best help us achieve those goals. Yet, in truth, one of the greatest things we can do to improve our lives is the simple and powerful practice of listening. Developing a practice of truly listening at a deeper level will exponentially expand the level of fulfillment, clarity, joy and connection we enjoy in our lives.
The White Stone Ceremony was created many years ago by a Unity minister named Dr. David Williamson. The ceremony is based on the idea that God has an amazing plan and purpose for our lives, and that our souls knows what we are being called to do, and who we came here to be. It is about taking time to actuallylisten to what our spirits are calling us to do and experience in our lives.
The ceremony is based on Revelations 2:17, which says, “Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To everyone who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna to eat, and I will give a white stone, and on the white stone a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.”
This ceremony is all about listening. It is about listening with the understanding that God has a wonderful plan and positive purpose for your life. It is about listening to your soul, which is calling to you to express more good, light, peace and wisdom, and to grow in amazing ways. It is about listening to God, who is calling you to be more, express more, embody more, experience more and share more. Each and every one of us can gain all of that if we are willing to listen.
The first two sentences of the Revelations Scripture begin with “Let anyone” and “To everyone.” That is powerful! It is saying thatanyone has access to God and everyone is being called to a greater life. No one is excluded! But we must be willing to listen to Spirit. The Scripture says, “Let anyone who has an ear listen to what the Spirit is saying.” We must be willing to slow down, quiet our minds, tune inward, and listen to the guidance that our souls are calling us to live, embody and express. Anyone who is willing to listen, and who is willing to move forward in faith to overcome the challenges and obstacles of life … anyone who wants to experience more, expand into a fuller and richer experience of life, and go a little deeper to achieve more meaning and fulfillment in their lives … to those individuals, amazing things will happen.
In the Scripture, God promises these individuals three things:
1) Hidden manna, or daily bread. Manna was the daily bread that fell from heaven for the Children of Israel when they were wandering in the desert. They were promised that manna would be given to them each and every day, yet some would still try to save some for the next day. They didn’t trust that there would be enough. But whatever bread they tried to save would rot after the first day. The message here is that God has promised to give each of us daily nourishment, guidance and whatever else we need each day; the question is, are we willing to trust that it will be there? Most of us have a little bit of a “control freak” in us, and want to know every detail about how that is going to happen … but this Scripture tells us that we have to be willing to trust that we will be provided for. We have to move forward with faith, knowing that God has a plan for us, and that we will be given all the daily spiritual nourishment and resources we need. We don’t have to be fearful or have all of the answers; we must have faith and trust that our daily bread will be provided for us every step of the way.
2) A white stone. During Biblical times, people who were released from prison were given a white stone, which served as proof that they were free and no longer had any debt to pay. As such, this white stone represents freedom; a sign that nothing is holding us back from moving into greater possibilities. We are all free to create, enjoy, become, and experience all that we want! Many of us don’t believe we’re free; we think that something or somebody is blocking our happiness or success. But nothing is stopping any of us from feeling joy right now. Nothing is holding us back from loving and living and growing and experiencing a great life. Listening to God’s guidance aligns us with the awareness that we are free actually free to do and achieve whatever we desire!
3) A new name. During Biblical times, names had meanings about what people were all about. For example, Moses’ name meant “to draw out.” And by no coincidence, Moses was drawn out of the Nile in a basket by Pharaoh’s sister, and his job and purpose in life was to draw out the Children of Israel from slavery. Jacob stole Esau’s birthright, and Jacob means “supplanter.” The change of a name was also significant. Jacob changed his name to Israel, which means “one who strives with God,” and then became the father of the 12 Tribes of Israel. Your name is part of your nature, so to get a new name means that you will be given a new direction and purpose in life. So when we are listening for our new name, what we are really listening for is a new consciousness, direction and purpose for our lives. Our souls are calling each and everyone one of us to a greater purpose. Some of our souls may be calling us to be more caring and kind. Some of our souls may be calling us to be more forgiving. Some may be calling us to let go. Some may be calling us to be more confident and feel more self worth. Whatever it is for you, your soul knows. The question is, are you willing to listen?
The white stone Scripture ends with the line, “a new name that no one knows except the one who receives it.” What this means is that only you can go to your secret place. Only you can listen for the guidance of your own soul to find out your direction and purpose. Only you can become quiet, turn inward, and listen to that still, small voice of God. Only you can close your eyes, open your heart, and go deep within to discover the amazing and powerful plan God has for your life. It might come as a feeling, it might come as a picture, it might come as a word. Don’t force it; just let it come. Stay open and present, and listen. Ask Spirit, “What is mine to do?”
This new year is filled with exciting possibilities and opportunities for your life. So instead of making a lot of hasty resolutions, this year allow the amazing skill and spiritual practice of listening to be an important part of your life. Take time every day to listen to your heart, body and spirit. Take time to listen to the people around you, and to be fully present to them. And take time – even if it’s just five minutes a day – to listen to God and ask for Divine guidance. Remember: listening takes practice; sometimes you won’t hear that still, small voice right away. But if you continue practicing, and are willing to listen, you will be guided and uplifted to greater blessings than you can possibly imagine. Even if it feels like nothing is happening, know that simply opening your heart and creating a space for God, and being willing to listen, is already doing great work in your life that will eventually bring forth the guidance you are seeking.
God has a plan for your life. God wants to bless you in amazing way. God is calling you to be a great blessing in the world. Are you willing to take time and listen?
God bless you all!
MEDITATION
Dear God, I take this moment to sit in the silence and truly listen. I set an intention and a willingness to quiet my mind from all distractions and listen to that still, small voice of God. Spirit, reveal thyself to me. Show me, lead me, guide me, and let me know what you are calling me to do. Let me know which spiritual step that will open and expand my spirit, fulfill my soul, and continue the great work you are calling me to do. Reveal thyself to me. Reveal thy will for me. Living, loving Spirit, I give thanks for this opportunity to quiet my mind, be still, and listen to the still, small voice of God … to that Divine wisdom that is seeking to express more good in my life. I give thanks for all of the growth that I have experienced up until now, and for the continued growth and expansion of my soul, and the fulfillment of the great work that God is call me to do. Thank you, God. Thank you! And so it is. Amen.