November 18, 2018
Do you ever watch TED talks? I just watched one featuring a deaf percussionist, Evelyn Glennie. A captivating demonstration and commentary on listening.
Deaf since age 12, she began to study percussion instruments and learn to listen with her whole body. Now she is a world renowned performer and teacher of percussion playing. There is something to be learned from her about really listening to other people’s words and hearts.
I have been talkative since I was a small child. (My kindergarten teacher wrote on my report card: “Linda has an outstanding vocabulary and takes part in all group discussions.”) This is teacher- speak for “Linda talks all the time.” Sigh…
God knows, as an adult, I have worked and prayed for the grace of listening to others. Simone Weil said: “Attention is the purest form of generosity.”
Let’s be generous this week, giving quiet, loving focus to what others are saying, and perhaps to what they are not saying. As Alfred Brendel observed: “Listen has the same letters as the word silent.”