The amazing interviewer and philosopher Krista Tippett, (creator of the podcast “ON BEING”) tells a story about entering into an experience of compassion. She decided to start “seeing” situations and people that most of us avoid seeing. She started hanging around a church where homeless people stay and began to talk to them – hearing their stories, learning the fine art of listening. She discovered that life perspective changes dramatically when you hear stories, and share your story. It all began with listening. How well do you listen? I remember my now-adult children during their middle school years….”MOM – I TOLD you that!!! You FORGOT!!!” Somehow I didn’t always listen well. Likely this has happened to you – in a family it is common to take each other for granted and not stop to really attend to the other. Listening well, offering a caring touch, making clear eye-contact, takes time and effort. It is worth the effort – it helps the other to know you care.
During an IN OUR HANDS trip to Puerto Rico, several on our work team took the time to listen to Ben. They were scraping paint in his home that had been damaged during hurricane Maria, but they were also attentive to this older man who lived alone and needed companionship. Because they listened, they heard what Ben said and told the rest of us parts of his story. In his earlier years Ben was a baseball great in the Puerto Rican leagues. Towards the end of our week, someone in the group got a new baseball and all of us signed it and presented it to Ben. We made a little program out of it and used this little gift as a way to honor him. What a wondrous event it was! This man was filled with joy! His eyes sparkled – his smile was broad – he was thrilled. This did not take great learning on the part of the team – this happened because they took the time to really hear someone. Then another person had an idea to present a gift and share a very tangible sign of care.
Travel and service has this wonderful capacity to open a heart and present a new way to see the world. Finding places to practice SEEING and LISTENING to someone new are around us every day.
I have a little game I have started to practice every day. I look. I go about the everyday tasks, errands, and appointments like usual, but at some point each day, I purposely stop and look. I try to notice everything around me – what people are near, what is happening, colors, smells, sounds, sights. Just yesterday I stopped at a tea store and did this. The woman at the counter was engaging and didn’t mind that I asked many more questions than a typical customer! She didn’t even seem to be in a hurry or distracted. In fact, she offered many more teas for me to sniff, and – in the end – gave me a free sample besides the purchase I made.
Take time. Watch and see and listen. Practice caring, even if it is small act. Life will become fascinating.
*to find out more about trips and service events, visit http://www.inourhandsadventures.com
IN OUR HANDS Stories and Adventures 
Well, since I am the first one to read my post, since I wrote it, I am trying out the reply section as well. Hope to hear from my readers:)
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“She decided to start “seeing” situations and people that most of us avoid seeing.”
Wow! This statement really hit home to me. My whole focus in life is to seek ways to demonstrate compassion to others. This got me wondering which situations I might be avoiding to see. Thank you for this awareness.
This whole blog post touched my heart. You gave us specific examples of how we can make a difference in the lives of others like your group did with Ben or the lady did yesterday by helping you with choosing tea.
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Thank you Elda! Krista’s story really was moving to me, how she chose to go and speak and engage with people that most of us would not choose to speak to.
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Joanne this is beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
When you shared Krista’s change in her own behavior toward seeing people she used to look past, it had me take a deeper look at my own behaviors.
I realized with panhandlers, for example, I tend to ignore them. (Not my proudest share, but it’s true.)
I then asked myself why and ultimately realized is its actually about my own discomfort in both seeing another human without their basic needs of safety and security being met and not knowing what to say to someone that is homeless whether they are standing on a corner asking for help or sitting on the sidewalk or park bench.
I’m going to take some time to figure out how I would like to interact with homeless people. I know it’s a choice and there is something far more human and kind, rather than ignoring them, that I can do. Thank you for the opportunity to reflect on my own behaviors.
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Julie, that is exactly what happens to me! I see people every day at corners, by the freeway entrances, and I look away, I don’t want to take the time. And I am very embarrassed for them. And if I were to be really honest, there’s a deeper fear that someday it could be me. I have been thinking about this, so I’m so glad that you are now reflecting as well. Thank you so much for your honesty.
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You are speaking my language! Listening to stories (and helping people share them) is so rewarding. If more people asked about someone else and then really listened, life would be very different. Thanks for sharing great examples of how listening can make a difference.
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Thank you Michelle – so true 🙏
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What a lovely post. Krista Tippett is such a wonderful wayshower and given the extent of her audience her impact can be significant. Your experience in Puerto Rico warms my heart. And I love your daily practice. I have no doubt it’s proving immensely satisfying and expansive. It makes me think of Mary Oliver’s wise words: “Instructions for living a life. Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it.”
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Thank you Deborah!! I don’t think I’ve heard those particular words of Mary Oliver’s, but of course, it is astonishing!!
Thank you for your words❤️
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Tangible signs of caring. As someone who is not big on “gifts,” this example was really powerful. It’s not a gift, but a sign of caring. Personal. Heart-felt. Shows listening. I love it. Thank you for the post.
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Thank you Dawn♥️
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