God's Love Stories: Links of Listening and Love

This week I'm pulling together a couple of videos and a few other links that have been helpful since the election (and before you think they are political, they are not. If you want politics, you'll need to find me on Facebook. I post a lot of stuff there. The visa/travel ban has been the on that's upset me the most.)

If you only have time for one video, please watch the first one:

Rev. Stephanie Spellers on the Revolutionary Art of Listening, from December 1, 2016 at Tedx New York (click on the picture below):

If you have only time to read one thing, read this: Continue, 2016 by Leeana Tankersley, always we begin again.

And the others:

Video: Brene Brown on why your critics aren't the ones who count at the 99u conference. Which seems to be the inverse of listening, but there's the listening to understand the other person, and then there's not listening to the attacks that keep you small. Rev. Stephanie would say you would then ask your critic what their hurt, their dream is.

• May You Know Courage and The Gentleness of Candlelight by Lauren Burdette, a spiritual director and a new blogger
• What the Trees Have Seen by Christie Purefoy
• What to Do When You Can't Agree With The People You Love by Jennifer Dukes Lee
• Interfaith Harmony (video and article) by Lauren Markoe at Religious News Service
• Faith Communities form "Rings of Peace" around Toronto Mosques at IQRA.CA
• Ok, this one is a bit political but it is also funny: "Can She Eat More Kale?" at The Washington Post about people worried about Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's health, especially the interview with her at the end.

And finally a photo with a story:

This is all that is left of a purple papier mache box (the tiny knob) and my Associates cross (the cord is missing), both presumably consumed by one or both of my dogs. So far, no ill affects, but I am a bit worried about that cord.