Spiritual listening amid the political fray
Adapted from an article that originally appeared in The Christian Science Monitor.
How do we stay involved, but not overwhelmed? Informed, but not inflamed?
I take a cue from something Christ Jesus said to the crowds that followed him: “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Luke 14:35). To me, that speaks to the need to develop spiritual listening skills that take in divine thoughts, ideas, and inspiration. In Christian Science, the term spiritual sense conveys this deep listening. More than a passive process, it involves a relinquishing of human opinion and the adoption of a heart and mind receptive to truth, love, and divine wisdom—spiritual qualities derived from God, the one infinite Spirit.
No one illustrated spiritual listening better than Jesus. He certainly needed to. Nearly every day he faced an ominous, largely political campaign to discredit him. Religious leaders and unbelievers wanted to shout down his message of hope and healing. Yet he persisted. The Bible records that Jesus often withdrew to pray quietly—to listen to what his Father was telling him. He said meekly, “My Father is greater than I” (John 14:28). Because he was God’s own Son, the Messiah, or the representative of God to humanity, he was thoroughly tuned in to God’s all-knowing nature. He was also empty of self-will, ego, and pride. “As I hear, I judge,” he said, “and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me” (John 5:30).
More than ever, today’s supercharged political climate needs quiet thinkers and listeners. Yet Jesus knew and prayed that his followers could “be with me where I am” (John 17:24). That is, they, too, could express a measure of spiritual awareness and unity with their Father-Mother God, the all-wise Mind.
More than ever, today's supercharged political climate needs quiet thinkers and listeners.
Such spiritual capacity comes by degrees. Little children gradually develop their ability to listen to a parent or teacher. But more important than paying attention to a person is the cultivation of a mental equanimity or poise that stays attuned to God despite outer commotion, emotionalism, or fear-engendering predictions. Fortunately, we can increasingly practice spiritual listening because we are, in fact, the image and likeness of God. Our purpose as “image” is to reflect or manifest our originating source, or Deity, and His qualities of wisdom, grace, understanding, and righteousness. In this way, listening to God becomes true prayer, demonstrating God’s goodness. Mary Baker Eddy, the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, once wrote: “The intercommunication is always from God to His idea, man” (Science and Health, p. 284).
Spiritual listening does not distance us from the world but engages us more constructively with it. It involves not merely hoping a certain candidate or policy will prevail, but acknowledging that God’s “will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).
Reflecting God’s wisdom, shining with His love, we’ll recognize more clearly the word of truth when we hear it, spiritually and humanly. We’ll be more selective in our news sources, more broad-minded and critical in our ability to penetrate tough and complex subjects. We’ll take the time to tackle the finer points of an issue and be less eager to rush to judgment. And finally, we’ll keep our peace and serenity. As obedient children, governed by spiritual sense, we’ll look up to God, our divine Parent, for His thoughts and messages, unique to each one of us but designed to bless the whole world.
