Listening from the Bottom
The story of history depends on who tells it. Most historical narratives come from the powerful, not the poor. Yet the deeper truths of our shared human journey emerge most clearly through the eyes of those on the margins. The struggle of the oppressed throughout time offers us a lens to see reality more clearly—without comfort, without illusion, and without avoidance. What happens when we choose to see from that place?
Spiritual transformation begins when we stop aligning with power and begin listening from below. Liberation is not an abstract ideal; it arises when we allow the voices of the poor, the excluded, and the vulnerable to challenge our perspectives and priorities.
Reading Scripture or engaging spiritual wisdom from the side of the powerful distorts its meaning. The message of liberation and transformation was first received by people with little to protect and everything to gain. The lens of the marginalized—the “bias from the bottom”—reveals a liberating truth that unsettles those invested in the status quo. Spiritual growth requires us to move closer to those who have been pushed to the bottom, not as saviors but as learners. From there, real change becomes possible.
Affirmation
I release my need for power and control. I open myself to wisdom from the margins. I choose the truth that heals and liberates all.
Spiritual Practice
Settle into stillness in a seated posture. Let your body become aware of any inner clinging to position, certainty, or privilege. Breathe slowly and allow those attachments to loosen.
Now bring to mind someone you consider “on the bottom”—someone left out, silenced, or disregarded by systems of power. Let their presence sit beside you. Listen in silence.
As thoughts arise about your place in the world—your comforts, your security, your attachments—gently invite the perspective of this companion to shape your own.
Without striving, let the boundaries between “us” and “them” dissolve.
Remain here in silent openness for several minutes. Let the silence teach you.
Guiding Questions (Journaling Prompts)
Where in my life have I unknowingly benefited from the status quo?
Whose voices have I ignored, minimized, or overlooked?
What does it mean for me to live closer to the “bottom”?
How does my spirituality change when I listen from the margins?
What kind of security am I still protecting, and why?
Action Step
Choose a specific person, community, or narrative from the margins that you will actively listen to this week. Let their perspective challenge your assumptions. Do not speak—just receive, absorb, and reflect.
Closing Invitation
Let this practice become part of your rhythm. Continue to learn from the places the world has forgotten. In seeking truth from the bottom, we are not abandoning ourselves; we are becoming more fully human—together.