I have a book on my shelf entitled "Practicing the Sacred Art of Listening." Having been primarily a listener these past few days as I was privileged to hear people coming for ordination in the United Methodist Church, I am again strongly reminded of the gift of listening. "Listening is not a passive activity. It’s not about being quiet or even hearing the words. It is an action, and it takes energy to listen." writes Kay Lindahl.

I know this is true because after three days of listening, I am exhausted. It is not a negative exhaustion. It is simply the result of being truly present to the words,faith, dreams, struggles, joys, grief, and very life of another person. There is a great gift in listening…to both the speaker and the listener. There is the gift of being able to speak your truth, to have your voice heard in an authentic way. There is also the gift of being present to someone’s life story, their understanding and experience of the movement of God in their lives.

In the Celtic Christian tradition there is the concept of a soul friend or annam cara. An annam cara is the person who listens to another’s deepest prayer, their struggles and triumphs in their spiritual journey. An annam cara is the person who is witness to how God moves in the life of another, giving meaning and encouragement not so much with words but with listening.

Do you have a soul friend, an annam cara? Everyone needs an annam cara. We all need someone who really listens to our deepest hopes and dreams. We all need someone who hears our life without judgment and instead listens with unconditional love and acceptance.

May today find each of us practicing the sacred art of listening. And may we also find an annam cara who will witness to the movement of God in our lives. In this action, we will all stand on Holy Ground.