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