Fears and Tears

The earth has music for those that listen. Unknown

There is a beauty of listening because it is a personal experience to be shared and received, of matters that touch the heart, and it brings a certain vulnerability and trust with it.

In listening, you are aware of the courage of another, in their sharing a part of their story with you. There is also a listening that happens without words spoken out loud, but is felt just as much as if they were.

On my vacation last week, I spent a lot of time listening. Even though I am quiet, many thoughts were going through my mind and it can be quite loud. I also had the opportunity to share my thoughts and be listened to. This does not come easy to me, as most of the time, I keep things to myself, lacking the courage to share them with another.

In listening, I find out about myself through others. This was the case at a concert I attended at the historic Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The opening artist, Rebecca St. James, shared her story that touched my heart. She spoke of her “winter” season that she was in and her time away from the music industry. It was dark and cold, and how she was brought into “spring” with a renewal and healing from the Holy Spirit. This happened through the inspiration of the song “Dawn” which speaks of her two miscarriages and the pain and loss she experienced. She sang this beautiful song as her husband and three children listened by her side. I listened to her song with my husband and four children by my side with thoughts of my three miscarriages, and the tears flowed while I experienced my “dawn” and a renewal took place deep within my heart. It was a surreal experience, and her song was a gift to me.

I have been brought outside of myself to others around me. To what is under the surface, because things are not what they seem. To see the great trust in which someone has the courage to share a part of their story with me, joy or sorrow, and that is the beauty of listening.