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Everything Broad Ripple HomearrowRandom Ripplings Homearrow2006 06 30arrowColumn

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Converted from paper version of the Broad Ripple Gazette (v03n13)
Poetic Thoughts - 2 Listening St. Michaels - by C.W. Pruitt II
posted: Jun. 30, 2006

Poetic Thoughts header

2 Listening St. Michaels

This article is about listening, and this story is about the tale of two Michaels. Seventy some odd years ago Michael 'Animal' Lochmüller came out of the womb an artist... and a listener. Animal is probably one of the most diverse, original, and iconoclastic artists ever to come out of Indianapolis. About the government he has been known to say:

The Spirit
Of The Law
Has Become
Greed

Animal listens deeply when others are talking. While some people cultivate listening for their whole lives, Animal has been an accomplished listener since he can remember. He says, "My listening allowed me to be a great boss. I listened even when they thought I wasn't listening. Then when I knew they were struggling in an area I would give then guidance." Animal would often upset his supervisors by taking his employees out to lunch. This gave him an even greater opportunity to listen. "I was able to listen to their family lives and not just to work things. My workers were intensely loyal. They would have worked for me for days on end in the mud." If you ever feel like talking, Animal always feels like listening. You can find him at the News Cafe during the day at 54th and College Avenue.
The first time I met Michael Norton was at my apartment in North Oaks. The room was filled with ex-cons, and Michael sat in a comfortable chair and didn't say a word. Two hours of silence passed from Michael. I began to think that he was a true tough guy, and I was afraid. I didn't know at the time that Michael didn't speak. Michael was a devout listener.
For three years Michael visited my apartment. He usually came over several times a day. He would give hand signals when he needed coffee or a cigarette. Those seemed to be his only two needs at the time.
When Michael began talking to me, the first two things he said to me were: "You'll have to forgive me, I'm kinda slow," and "I'm mostly a listener."
A couple of days later we were sitting at my table. Michael said, "You've got tons of Bibles and you're into the Bible. You should hold a Bible study." I opened a Bible to the Book of John and said, "Do you want to read first?" He obliged and began to read The Truth. As his deep and resonant voice spoke, I wept.
The really cool thing about listeners is when they finally speak.



cw@broadripplegazette.com
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