Building Bridges

This past week, I was asked to share one of your inspiring poems at an inaugural community peace meal hosted by Open Table Faith, an interfaith outreach ministry of a local church.

It was not a surprise to be invited to the event — my pleuralism is well-known and for ten years (ending with the COVID pandemic), I cofounded and cohosted a city-wide, week-long, arts-based annual celebration of the United Nations International Day of Peace here in Tyler, Texas called Art of Peace. Happily, among the guests at the Open Table Faith event were all the members of our Art of Peace committee — it felt like a peace family reunion, now that peace is needed more than ever!

I was invited to read as an invocation, so I chose the poem, “Build a Bridge.”

The poem, now available on the front page of my InSpiritry.com and PoetwithaPressPass.com websites, is one written several years ago, which goes to remind us how the need for peace is a continuing concern.

As I spoke the poem aloud to the audience, for whom I am likely the only poet they know, the sound of my voice speaking the words touched my heart, first to its admitted sorrows and then to its simple premise for responding to our pain.

In particular, I was startled to have to be reminded of a truth that has been an tenet of my life—the truth that our stories are much more powerful than our rhetoric and that listening to other people’s stories is the first step in understanding them (especially if our values are far apart). I often say that our heart hears what our mouths speak.

When we hear what others have been through, struggled with, hoped for, and believed in, we can begin to comprehend “how they could possible feel the way they do!” And when we share our own stories, the power of love and possibilities of compassion are illustrated instead of insisted! We begin to build bridges.

I hope as you host or attend Thanksgiving gatherings (even if your interactions are limited to phone, text or social media), you will be inspired to trade stories with those you love most, as well as those you find most difficult. Remember—“our listening will be the bridge.”

Have a lovely weekend!

Anne