A series of meditations entitled the Good Samaritans? is open at
http://newsamaritans.blogspot.com/

And above all other things, in this matter of conversing with thy neighbour, keep silence as much as thou canst, and then shalt thou see that by so doing thou shalt in short time be troubled with little press or company that would come to hinder thy devotions. This is my opinion herein; do thou better if thou canst. (John Climacus)

In listening to our neighbor we continue our devotions.

With you truly hearing, they are more likely to be healed.

In health they will give more time to their own devotions...

Until you are in need of their listening,

When in devotion to God and each other, we join in the sacrament of listening for the word of God.

If it be another man that cometh to give thee his alms, or else for to hear thee speak, or to be taught by thee, speak gently and humbly to them all, reprove no man for his faults, for that belongeth not to thee, unless he be the more homely or familiar with thee, that thou knowest that he will take it well from thee. And to be short in this matter of thy telling of another of his faults, I say, that when thou conceivest that it will do him good (namely, in his soul) thou mayest tell him thy mind, if thou hast opportunity, and if he is likely to take it well. (John Climacus)

"Reprove no man for his faults."

Fault-finding is not the purpose of our relationship.

Teaching - and especially spiritual teaching - can too often focus on what is deficient.

It is almost always more productive to attend to and enhance what is already strong.

Praise God, praise your neighbor, even find cause to honestly praise yourself. The abundance that God has given will, if allowed, fill any deficit.

If it be another man that cometh to teach thee, as some Churchman, etc., hear him humbly, and with reverence to his order; and if his speeches comfort thee, ask of him more what thou needest, and take not upon thee to teach him, for it falleth not to thy share to teach a priest, but in case of necessity. If his speech comfort thee or profit thee not, answer little, and he will soon take his leave. (John Climacus)

If I was observing this rule, many of these morning meditations would have even less to them.

Climacus does not always comfort me. But with questions and engagement his writings do profit me.

The issue, I expect, is to discern teaching from self-assertion.

Teaching can be an ego-inflating task. It is easy for a teacher to divert from teaching into bloviating.

Any question or even feigned interest will further inflate the bloviator... and distract us from more fruitful tasks.

If thou canst love thy neighbour well, to speak with thy neighbour with discretion shall be no hindrance to thee. Discretion shalt thou have on this manner as me thinketh; Whoso cometh to thee, ask him meekly what he would have; and if he come to tell thee his disease or trouble and to be comforted by thy speech, hear him gladly, and suffer him to say what he will, for ease of his own heart; and when he hath done, comfort him if thou canst, gladly, gently and charitably, and soon break off. And then, after that, if he will fall into idle tales, or vanities of the world, or of other men’s actions, answer him but little, and feed not his speech, and he will soon be weary, and quickly take his leave. (John Climacus)

A bartender or barber could also benefit from this advice.

Often we just need someone to listen.

To be heard, whatever else, may ease our own heart.

No further comfort may be possible but the listening.

But in being heard - without judgment or impatience - we may also be healed.

And though thou be at prayer, or at thy devotions, that thou thinkest loth to break off, for that thou thinkest that thou oughtest not leave God for to speak with anyone, I think not so in this case, for if thou be wise thou shalt not leave God, but thou shalt find Him, and have Him, and see Him, in thy neighbour, as well as in prayer, only in another manner. (John Climacus)

If we would find ourselves, we will engage others.

If we would know God, we will open ourselves to others.

If we would ask for God's blessing, we will ask our neighbors what they need.

Prayer is listening for God, we can begin by listening to our neighbor.

Worship is serving God, we can begin by serving our neighbor.

"I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (Matthew 25:40)

And since it is so that thou oughtest not to go out of thy house to seek occasion how thou mightest profit thy neighbour by deeds of charity, because thou art enclosed; nevertheless thou art bound to love all men in thy heart, and to show some tokens of true love to them that come to thee. And therefore, whoso will speak with thee, whatsoever he be, or of what degree soever, though thou knowest not what he is, nor why he cometh, yet be thou soon ready with a good will to ask what his will is, be not dainty, nor suffer him long to wait for thee, but look how ready and how glad thou wouldst be if an angel of heaven should come and speak with thee, so ready and so buxom be thou in will for to speak with thy neighbour when he cometh to thee, for thou knowest not what he is, nor why he cometh, nor what need he hath of thee, or thou of him, till thou hast tried. (John Climacus)

There is a person who lives far away who makes a considerable effort to visit at least once a year.

The prospect of this visit -- only a few days -- causes some consternation in our house.

I have never determined if the visitor lacks self-awareness or, instead, is so self-centered s/he has no skill is perceiving others. In any case it is almost always an awkward and difficult few days.

Yet the visit is always rich in experiencing the mystery of relationship with one another and with God.

We are not glad to have the visitor, but in scripture angels usually arrive when trouble is afoot and give us insights difficult to fully discern.