|
Welcome!
|
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
++++++++++For archived stories, please see Radio Archives++++++++++++++++
Have you read Tammy's book from Heart to Heart?
Listen with your whole self:
Hearing God's words in the whispers
What are people saying about this?
"Tammy Bundy's no-nonsense approach to keeping the lines of communication open with God is refreshing and practical. Her rich experience of partnering with Rev. Jim Willig in sharing his incredible journey of faith is one no one should miss. It is a story of miracles woven into real life."
Brian Patrick
Host, Sacred Heart Radio's Son Rise Morning Show
Founder of The Good News Network
"Tammy has taken the story of being called to work with Fr. Jim on Lessons from the School of Suffering and has broken it open to discover more lessons for those continuing their education. She applies the same successful lesson plans that worked so well for her and Fr. Jim: short, poignant chapters, insightful personal reflection, scripture texts, and soul- searching homework. All this sprinkled with a gentle dose of humor and a double dose of grace!"
Fr. J. Michael Sparough, SJ
Friend of Fr Jim's/Director of Charis Ministries
Want to know more about it? Read the
introduction:
Listen with your whole self Introduction
It all began few years ago.
After school.
This is the time when my house is like Grand Central Station --- four kids coming from four
different schools ---with four different snack requests and four different friends. To call it
chaotic is more than an understatement.
I typically try to combat this chaos by giving each child roughly a quarter of my attention.
Usually, this works. Most of the time they are so caught up in their own worlds, they don't
notice that I am too caught up in mine.
One day, though, I got busted.
It was the day my third child, Ryan, arrived home from school brimming with excitement. It
was the most thrilling day of his little life. He was absolutely animated about his story which
involved the first grade bunny. The little guy couldn't even sit still long enough to finish his
requested snack, instead following me around the room as I dutifully went through all the
backpacks of the day. Every now and then I would give him an affirming reaction such as,
"Uh-huh. Is that right?" assuming that would satiate his story-telling thirst.
But right between his backpack and that of his little brother, he stopped my wondering,
inattentive mind.
"Mommy," he stated, sounding much older than six, "You're not listening."
And he was right; I wasn't. But I hadn't been a mommy for all those years to simply admit
defeat all at once. I stammered, "Yes I was, honey," as my mind raced for something to
repeat back to him.
Somewhere in my quarter-interest zone, perhaps a couple of the words he had spoken had
seeped through. I dug deep, grasping the first cohesive thought I could remember: "You were
telling me about the classroom bunny."
Talk about pulling a rabbit out of the hat!
I was quite proud of myself for that save.
But Ryan wasn't buying any of it. He moved his first grade body so that he was right in front
of me. Then he placed one six-year-old hand on the right side of my cheek, and one six-year-
old hand on the other, as he looked me firmly and yet so gently in the eyes as he said, "But
Mommy, I need you to listen with your whole self."
And so I did.
I listened with my whole self.
And what a difference it made.
With my ears I could hear the excitement in his voice as he told me about the classroom
bunny getting out of its cage. With my eyes, I could see the sparkle in his eyes as he giggled,
recalling how the teacher almost fell down while trying to catch the furry friend. And with my
hands, I could feel his heart beating ever so fast as he revealed how he was the one to
capture the bunny and put it back in its cage.
I listened with my whole self.
And it made a whole lot of difference.
Sometimes it's so simple. But we make it so hard.
After that moment with Ryan, I felt I had something close to an epiphany. It was one basic
and yet incredible thought: That must be what God wants to tell each of us so many times.
Too many times I say a prayer and then go about the rest of my busy day. And every now
and
then I might stop to think, "Oh, it looks like He isn't going to answer my prayer."
But I would bet that God would love to firmly and yet gently grasp me by the face ---one
majestic hand on the right cheek ---one majestic hand on the other ---and say, "Child of mine,
you're not listening."
To which I would defensively come back with, "Sure I was listening, Lord. I said my prayer.
But You didn't answer."
And of course, the Lord could respond, "I am answering your prayer. But you're not listening.
I need you to listen ---listen with your whole self."
Just the thought of it took me to a deeper level of anticipation in my prayer life.
What had I been missing?
What had I not been hearing?
But then a thought came back to me.
How can we listen?
Really listen.
At the time, I had no idea what I was getting ready to discover, but I did sense I was on to
something.
I became determined to find out what it was. And when all began to be set before me, it was
more than I ever dreamed.
I listened with my whole self to the answers of the Lord. And what a difference it made in my
whole life.
***
To order a copy of Listen with your whole self please go to:
