“Love looks like more than an open heart — it’s an open ear.

When pain is unheard, all the world becomes painfully absurd. Because it’s right there in the word absurd, the Latin word surdus, which means ‘deaf.’… Wherever we grow deaf & injustices are unheard, the world grows very rightly absurd.

When we grow deaf to others painful experiences, life becomes a painfully absurd experience.

And yet, in the midst of these days, if you untangle the word: obedient?

The word obedient comes from the Latin word audire, which means ‘listening.’ When we faithfully listen to others’ lives — we faithfully live obedient lives.

The practice of listening to others is how we practice being obedient to (Abba) God.

When we practice listening, we practice our faith.

The first shall be last & the last shall be first: these are words that are meant to be incarnated in the people of (Abba) God, embodied in the Kingdom of (Abba) God.

The first shall be last & the last shall be first & this needs to begin now.

This week, as we’re all prioritizing the voice of Abba over people, choosing to & lean in & listen to people, their wisdom, their experience, their leadership, we practice auditory listening as a practice of authentic obedience.

When we, we begin the process of passing through to the promised land of reconciliation.

When we, we Pass the Peace.

Absurdity always begins to end — where the listening begins.

And where the listening begins:

The cochlear of our collective soul resonates with the rising beat of hope.