The Listening Bench: What Would You Tell a Stranger in Confidence?

What would you tell a stranger in confidence? What secret have you held within yourself that needs to be released? After early retirement, Jonah Freeman finds himself unsure of his next chapter in life. His corporate career had not been especially fulfilling. He hoped his next stage would help him find more purpose and self-actualization. To his surprise, he stumbles upon a need that he works to fulfill. After some serendipitous events, Jonah begins listening to strangers’ personal stories on a bench in a city park. Those that confide in him find comfort in telling Jonah their secrets that they cannot tell family, friends, or even spouses. The stories he listens to include such heart-wrenching topics as personal tragedy, family secrets, regrets, and loneliness. They also are stories of hope and change. He must overcome challenges –both external and internal– in order to continue his quest to provide people a listening ear. The Listening Bench is not only about the people who confide in Jonah on the bench, but about his own external conflicts. His new life on the bench causes him to recollect his own history and prepares him for the events of his future. The Listening Bench leaves the reader with a desire to listen more intimately to the people in their own lives and to seek out ways to make a difference in the world.