Poem March 2, 1981 Issue

Prayer is listening

HUGH GEORGE ECCLES

The "still, small voice" of scientific thought reaches over continent and ocean to the globe's remotest bound. The inaudible voice of Truth is, to the human mind, "as when a lion roareth. " It is heard in the desert and in dark places of fear. ^{Science and Health by Mrs. Eddy, p. 559.}

One doesn't hear what one is not listening for.

The parent sleeps through many sounds, but wakes to the fainter sounds of the child's need. The parent doesn't try to listen, the parent listens—constantly, effortlessly—and hears. And distance dims not the child's cry, for it is also heard in consciousness.

The child recognizes the parent's voice through a cacophony of voices. The child doesn't try to recognize, the child recognizes the familiar voice. Even when he doesn't expect to, the child hears; for without realizing it, the child is always listening. And distance dims not the parent's voice, for it is also heard in consciousness.

Prayer is listening.
Not to an unknown, distant god,
not just trying to listen,
not distracted by other sounds;
but listening, without ceasing, in consciousness, to the one God.

HUGH GEORGE ECCLES

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