Today is the 10th anniversary of Our Southern Souls. I can’t begin to say what all of the 2,222 people and their stories mean to me, but part of my devotion readings this morning came close.

“When was the last time you listened to the stories of others?…Listening to another’s story somehow gives us the strength of example to carry on, as well as showing aspects of ourselves we can’t easily see. For listening to the stories of others-not to their precautions or personal commandments-is a kind of water that breaks the fever of our isolation. If we listen closely enough, we are soothed into remembering our common name.”

Listening to others is the water that breaks the fever of our isolation and teaches us about ourselves. And we are surrounded by that water in so many beautiful vessels. We just have to stop and see them.