Through and Through

I call to you like your friend Karen calls to her dog. She lowers her voice, calling softly to him. And Cosmos hears her.  Does he always come when called? No.  But does he hear her? Yes. Does he recognize her quiet call? Yes. Does he know what she wants? Yes.

I am like Karen. I lower my voice.

You hear so many voices, most of them strident, assertive, aggressive, loud, bossy, in your face, it’s-all-about-me voices, needy voices, harsh voices, nosy voices, not-so-pleasant voices, sweet voices, syrupy voices. They are not all necessarily bad voices. Some of them are very good, very legitimate, and very important. You need to listen for them because they genuinely need you or have some legitimate claim upon you. And, like it or not, you are in relationship with every one of them. Near or far, friend or foe, they share the same world and this same moment in time with you.

But I am different. I lower my voice.

Because I do, I understand that it is sometimes difficult for you to notice when I’m calling, speaking, seeking to enter into conversation with you and wanting to teach you something. I get that! And I don’t do this to manipulate you, forcing you listen harder. If I did this, then mine would be just like all the rest of the voices out there.

No, I do it to separate mine from all the rest…so you will be able to distinguish it and hear it even in the midst of these other voices. Yes, you’ll have to work a little harder, be a bit more observant and discerning, and listen with love instead of ego.

But you'll know it is me. And I promise, I will always be here. You will always find me available when you want to talk. And if you will listen for me, I will teach what to listen for in all the other voices you are hearing. You will lengthen your days and soften your nights. You will experience the awareness of that flow which is Life itself. Me.

Listen for me. I’m here. I’m here for you and I’m here with you…so I can be here through…and through you.

You Called?

YOU call to me through the one who is the love of my life. You call to me through my children and their lives. You call to me through my friends. You call to me through the people I see each day but know nothing about. You call to me through those who are truly complete strangers in my life…those whose path my feet will never tread upon. You call to me through the terrorist who bombs my fellow Americans. You call to me through Obama and Putin and Iran and ISIS and Republicans and Democrats and the ultra rich and the utterly impoverished.

You call…as you have called all of my life…without ever stopping, without ever letting up, never ceasing long enough to take a breath. You call morning and evening. Again and again. Day and night. Night and day. Out of the dawn and into the dusk.

Am I listening? Do I hear you above the fray and beneath the din? In those rare moments when I actually do hear your call, it is always a sweet beckoning. It is a call that feels bathed in love. Bathed in compassion. Bathed in forgiveness. Bathed in joy. Bathed in a deep yearning for all people and all life to live knowing, sensing, listening for and hearing it.

There is no trace of judgment in your voices. No trace of condescension. No trace of anger, malice or vengefulness. Just the pure simple clarion call of love coming to me through the beat of a hummingbird’s wings.

It is a call to life…a call that rings out to all that you have made…every creature, every cricket.  And it is the call to life. It’s here always. But it’s a call that, most of the time, I’m missing…because I’m not listening.