Taking Time To Listen Can Be Greatest Gift

It was a rainy, gloomy Saturday, filled to the brim with chores. A blaster headache and a sour disposition followed us to the library. Once there, a book caught our miserable eye. “Everyday Sacred,” by Sue Bender. Took the book home, read it and felt a lot better.

Bender spent a year or more taking the time to look at stuff like bowls. The shapes of bowls, bowls with cracks. Her book is a series of vignettes - funny, profound, nonpreachy about the sacredness in everyday life, in everyday things. Here’s one of our favorite vignettes, on the gift of listening. Next time someone is talking to you and your eyes dart around, remember this story from Bender’s book:

“(This older woman) made one large decision. She was determined to shrink her list of ‘shoulds.’ The one thing she was prepared to willingly do was listen, really listen when she was with another person. ‘When people started thanking me for what I had done for them, I was surprised. I hadn’t done anything!’ Later she realized her ‘just listening’ had meant a lot to them. William Shirer said of Ghandi: ‘You felt you were the only person in the room, that he had all the time in the world for you.’ Listening is love.”

Check it out: ACT Theatre in the Spokane Valley is now staging a play called “The Old Lady’s Guide To Survival,” by Mayo Simon. It’s about two older women grappling with encroaching physical and mental frailties, isolation and dependency. Sounds heavy, but it’s billed as a “very funny play” and of special interest to “anyone involved in the needs of the elderly.” There are several performances scheduled between now and Dec. 2. Tickets are $10; $8 for seniors. Call 921-1706.

Coming up: Crisis Pregnancy Centers of Spokane will hold its annual dessert banquet Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at Cavanaugh’s Inn at the Park. This annual fundraiser always features great desserts and interesting speakers. Shari Richard, an ultrasound expert who has testified in Congress, is this year’s speaker. Reservations must be made in advance by calling 327-0701.

Business wise: The November meeting of Business Excellence for Women will focus on “Getting Business.” The speaker is W. Berry Fowler, an international business owner and consultant who founded Sylvan Learning Centers. The luncheon will be held Wednesday, beginning at 11:30 at Cavanaugh’s River Inn. Call Kerry for reservations at 466-6266.

, DataTimes