Posts Tagged With: listening

Repair

Posted on October 4, 2022 by backfromtheborderlands
Photo by energepic.com on Pexels.com

Repair 

Could we just move

Towards each other

Instead of listening

To the voices inside and out

Telling us how divided we are?

Could we remember

Laughter and friendship

Kindness and love

Sorrow and grief

We have tasted together?

Perhaps repair

Does not always need

Many words

But slow movement

Back to each other

A gift, a call

A jar of pickles

We know love is action

Not just pleasant thoughts

And feelings

These times need creativity

To create new ways

Of reconnection

Of loving one another

Our neighbors

Even our enemies

© Julie Clark 2022

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com
Categories: Autumn Poems, Love, Peace and Reconciliation, Poetry, Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , | 1 Comment

Learning to Listening

Posted on February 5, 2016 by backfromtheborderlands

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How well am I listening to the voice of my Shepherd?

Have I been searching his Word for his words to me?

Have I been watching his every move to move with him when he moves?

Am I slowing down when he does,

to stop and play with a child or

listen to another who needs my ears and comfort?

Have I stretched out my hand in healing as he does?

Am I studying his ways to match my ways with his?

Forgiving as he forgave me?

Forsaking condemnation and judgement,

while learning the art of love and compassion?

How well do I know his voice?

Enough that I do not follow the thousand voices

leading me down other paths far away from his?

How well am I listening to the voice of my Beloved?

Categories: Faith, God, Lent, Life, Love, Paths, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Birdsong

Posted on May 3, 2014 by backfromtheborderlands

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I am paying close attention

to the birdsong

this spring.

They stop me at the window

in the yard

on a walk or

on the way to the car.

“We have something to say to you!”

“Are you listening?”

 

As a small girl

I would lie down in the cool

shaded grass

looking up into the green leaves

deciphering the birdsong

code –

the chattering, whistling,

singing from one branch

to another:

“Come to tea!”

“Don’t forget to feed your babies!”

 

Now they are singing

sweet reminders:

“Slow down,

no need to rush.”

“Don’t take life

so seriously.”

“Enjoy this moment with us.”

“We have a secret

we want to sing to you.”

 

© 2014 Julie Clark

 

Categories: beauty, Birds, Life, Poetry, Seasons, Trees | Tags: , , , , , | 2 Comments

Where?

Posted on November 16, 2012 by backfromtheborderlands

Where are the ones?

Who will lean their heads

Upon the breast of Jesus,

Listening carefully

To His heartbeat of love?

Instead many

Called by His Name

Are listening to other voices

Bent on destruction.

Instructing us to judge

Instead of pray

Condemn

Instead of lend a hand.

Don’t you feel your pulse race

As you move from fear to hate?

How many times did He tell us to love?

Love God

Love yourself

Love each other

Love your neighbor

And yes, love your enemy!

It’s time to take a deep breath.

Turn away from the voices

Stealing our peace and our souls.

It’s time to

Lean our heads, our eyes, our ears

And our hearts

Upon the breast of Jesus.

He might just tell us again

To love someone.

© 2012 Julie Clark

Categories: Faith, God, Life, Love, Paths, Peace and Reconciliation, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Listening

Posted on July 5, 2012 by backfromtheborderlands

In the dark

I lay awake

Listening

For the sounds

I cannot hear during the day

They are muffled out by machines

And words, barking dogs and my own thoughts

Before I sleep I want to hear the trains

Hugging the coastline

And the ferry’s foghorn

Blasting it’s warning as it comes

Up to the dock.

The trains are busy tonight

But try as I may

I am overcome by sleep

Before I hear the forlorn call

From the ferry.

Maybe I will hear it

In my dreams.

 

©2012 Julie Clark

Categories: Life, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

An Ordinary Life

Posted on February 16, 2012 by backfromtheborderlands

An ordinary life

An ordinary day

Every day

Steps to take

One foot in front of the other

Towards the goal

Of being a better person

Of loving my neighbor

Of finding my place

It takes listening

To that True Voice

Who tells me who I am

Who tells me what I am worth

Who puts the extra

Into my ordinary

© 2010 Julie Clark

Categories: Life, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Listening is a healing solace

Posted on March 10, 2011 by backfromtheborderlands

Listening is a healing solace.

We talk about being God’s hands and feet

Can we also be his ears?

There are stories in need of telling,

Locked away for lack of listeners

Who will hear and not be judging.

It’s the first step to understanding.

With understanding grows compassion.

Listening is an act of peace.

If we listen to those who are different

We will get a new view

Of the world

Through their eyes.

When I listen to you

I stop hearing all my wants and needs

To give space to hear yours.

Peace can start

In the heart

Through the ears

When I listen to you

And you to me

And we both

Desire peace.

When understanding grows

Into compassion

I can give a little

And you too.

We can forgive

The wrong.

Start afresh

And be free

From the terror

Of hatred

And revenge.

© 2011 Julie Clark

Categories: Peace and Reconciliation, Poetry | Tags: , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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