Ambient noise

Ginger my dog and me at 3 yrs

Communication. . . World problems could be solved, relationships saved, information transmitted, and yet it's so difficult to achieve.   A few years ago a member of the congregation came into have a chat.  She was very upset about a perceived wrong, - "but how am I suppose to know that?"  Calmly I explained that the information was explained at our congregation's Annual Meeting.  "Oh, I don't go to those things."  I explained that it was also in the Annual Report, and that I mentioned it in a letter written to the congregation.  As one might guess, she had read neither.

A few years back, I heard that marketing experts say we must be contacted about a product at least six times before the information sinks into our consciousness.  Although that may be true.  If the information is important enough - say like the million dollars I think I should win - well, I guess you wouldn't have to tell me six times.

I am blessed to have some deaf people in my life, one of whom reminds me that hearing people don't listen or communicate very well.  I have no basis of experience to know the truth of that accusation, but I have been aware that ambient conversation and noise are lost on deaf people who have no idea what is being said around them.  To understand me, a deaf person must either look at my mouth with great intention, or try to understand what I am attempting to say with my limited sign language.  "listening" is more intentional when you choose to "hear."

When I think about how many things I heard yesterday - and have already forgotten it is sad.  But, isn't it amazing how many years the story of Jesus has managed to survive?  He was so counter-culture with the way he stood up for the poor, sick, lame, mentally ill, women, children and slaves, and how his sacred power - still does.  Jesus put his message, ministry, and faith, in fisherman, tax collectors, and the unclean, they were his inner circle.  Seriously, who wants to hear stories about a man who loved the unlovable and invisible?

Yet, right now, in the middle of our Easter season, the story continues. How does anyone communicate love in a way that people are still telling the story 2000 years later?  Frankly it's worth so much more than a million dollars (not that I would turn down the million).  Keep telling me the stories of Jesus, 6 times - today, and 6 more tomorrow.  Tell me to stop listening to the ambient noise of my cluttered life.

The story can change the world.  But in the meantime make me look at your lips moving.  Move your hands around, do whatever you need to do to help me - so that I can tell the story to someone else.

Visited

Sally (name changed) 90+ years old, just home from the hospital is grieving the loss of her sister. I visited her last week, she was in bed recovering from a bout with COPD. Clearly beloved by her family, with her hospital bed on the first floor, surrounded by her things, paintings, and other things to bring physical comfort. "My sister died, she was younger by several years," she told me. "Not fair, I'm the oldest, I thought I got to go first." We chatted for a while, and she told me about her sister.


For years people have told me about being visited by loved ones after they die. Loved ones seem to return in dreams, by scent, and other creative ways. Today in church our preacher even mentioned something to this effect in her sermon. It's as if they return to let us know that they are all right, or maybe they just stay until we are ready to let them go. She pointed out to us the sacredness of these experiences that few of us feel comfortable talking about. Yet, as a priest, someone who is privileged to hear what some fear to talk about, I hear this a lot. Our preacher pointed out that we need spiritual friends and a community where it is safe to talk about these holy experiences.


I took a chance and asked Sally "has your sister visited you in your dreams?" Her eyes got wide and she looked at me with that, "how did you know?" look. "Yes, she has," she whispered, "and she told me she is o.k." I told Sally that I was happy that her sister was able to tell her that she is o.k.


This afternoon I called a friend whose mother just died. They were very close. Her mother was a wonderful woman. I dreamed she come to a meeting I was in with a plate of cookies-that we were trying to politely decline. Are cookies fattening even if they are dream cookies? Anyway, her mother said, "you just have to have some sweetness in life." Of course she is right.


I wonder about these 'near life' experiences. They are sacred, holy, and a blessing. Do they happen to everyone? I could tell that both Sally and my friend were glad I brought it up. When loved ones die, we really do like to talk about it to people who won't think us nuts.



What do you think? Have this ever happened to you? I'm listening.