Listen

"If you had the attention of the entire world for two minutes, what would you say?" I thought that this was such a great question when I first read it that I asked my friends to chime in on what their response would be. It was interesting to me that all of the ones who responded said something of a religious nature: "Accept Jesus," "Love one another," things like that. Being a religious-minded person myself, I agree that those are very important messages! My response to the question, however, is slightly different.

If I had the attention of the entire world for two minutes, I would simply say: "Listen." With all of the chatter, noise, and information overload that already bombards us daily--billions of voices already clamoring for your attention as it is--it's all the more critical to take time to listen. Listen to others. More importantly, listen to the deep still voice within. After all, who am I to tell you what you need to know or do when the best, truest, most authentic, most humane, most loving, most appropriate, and even most religious answer lies in the quiet stillness of your own heart.

So, take time to listen. Go for a walk in the woods. Go away by yourself for a weekend. Spend some quiet time in a scared space. Go to your room and close the door. Wherever and however you do it: Just listen.