Reading some notes my husband brought home from a leadership conference, I was reminded all over again, about the importance of conversation.

We tend to think conversation is trivial, and that real work is doing something productive.  What we fail to remember is that the work of conversation can be productive and can possibly achieve results far beyond our expectations.

The words of Margaret Wheatley inspired me again.  We would do well to reflect on her simple suggestions.

“I believe we can change the world if we start listening to one another again.  Simple, honest, human conversation.  Not mediation, negotiation, problem-solving, debate, or public meetings.  Simple, truthful conversation where we each have a chance to speak, we each feel heard, and we each listen well.  What would it feel like to be listening to each other again about what disturbs and troubles us?  About what gives us energy and hope?  About our yearnings, our fears, our prayers, our children? . . . Human conversation is the most ancient and easiest way to cultivate conditions for change – personal change, community, and organizational change, planetary change.  If we can sit together and talk about what’s important to us, we begin to come alive.” 

Perhaps we should put our minds to trying this.

It’s a great Advent exercise.

Share your heart and listen well as others share theirs in simple, honest conversation.

And, who knows what grace the future may hold for us.