dear grandchildren: Even though I havn't written you for nearly a month; I

have prayed for you every day

and i am so hgrateful each of your folks have shared with us about your

activities. a new experiece has come to me the past three weeks. I tutor 4

wonderful 2nd graders in reading. 3 of them had colds. Maybe I didn't wash

my hands, or maybe I've been to confident about my immunity. I've had a

full-fledged bronchitis, bordering on pneumonia.

Today i have laryingitis and for the first time in over 60 years i cannot

talk. This is good and humbling for me. So I philosophize: Next to praying

for a person, the best thing anyone can do is really listen.

Now for 10 week i have had on Thursda7y mornings a "Listening Post"

sitting 9am. to nearly noon and lunch in a beautiful Gazebo on our Campus

called La Casita. A sign says:"A PLACE TO BE HEARD AND ACCEPTED. About 20

people have stopped by.Peanuts and oranges and apples are in the bowl on the

stool. When no one stopps, I just revel in the marvelous trees and flowers in

bloom around me. Widows, widowers. many people born in other countries,

several lost their parents and relatives in the Holocaust. Some want to talk

about their children, and most wrestle with acceptance. I have come to see

Listening as a way of loving my brothers anb sisters . You know, when eyes

meet i think something mysterious flows between two people. Attitudes of

sympathetic caring can be conveyed. i often silently pray Psalm 51:10"Create

in me a listening heart, O God and renew a 'Christlike" spirit within me." i

am learning not to give advice but ask questions, opening up options.

occasionally. i do share materials; or offer to put something in the area of

our conversation in their mailbox. Sitting still is good for me. I have

been to activistic and pushy. i am discovering that by truly concentrating i

can shut out most of my rushing mind. i am aware of non-verbal communication

as i have never felt and observed before. I have always been afraid of

silence. All this is to say, I think I am improving and becoming a more

wholistic, healthy minded person. Thanks again for listening. I'll be

sharing again before Christmas. I love, and I am so very proud of each of

you as you invest your lives. Grandad Shikles