Authentic listening is an act of love. To listen is to become vulnerable, to risk being drawn into someone’s suffering, to expose our assumptions to challenge. Listening can require great courage, which is why we will often tolerate injustice or even strike out in violence rather than risk listening.

“Money talks,” but the poor often speak with a voice that only God hears. By listening to the oppressed, we who are powerful bless them AND we are blessed by them; for God often speaks through the voice of the voiceless with words that can liberate us if we dare listen.

In this newsletter, we look at Beyond Borders’ efforts to promote listening.