There are sounds all around us that we never hear. We must carefully attune our ears or we miss the sounds. Some people have no hearing, or very little hearing. Some people are profoundly deaf. And yet, they often "hear" more of the world than those of us who are capable of hearing because we simply can't stop and focus long enough to really listen to the world around us. People who can't hear have heightened their other senses so that the world IS attended to, IS noticed, and likely appreciated.
So, take a moment and listen to the sounds you hear right now. I hear traffic driving steadily down Lookout Road. I hear the keyboard keys clicking. I hear the hum of what must be the heat vent. I hear the clock ticking. And yet, most days, I never tune in to hear any of those sounds just mentioned.
Such is it with the voices of those in need, or the persecuted, or the marginalized. This week's scriptures from the prophet Micah, the Psalmist, and the gospel writer of Matthew tell us in very clear ways that we are to hear the sound of those in need and that we are to be kind and loving and compassionate. Then, we are living into the kingdom of God.
From the mountain, Jesus preaches these famous "blessed are the..." words. The beatitudes. In Micah, the mountains are listening to God as he laments the people's errant ways. The psalmist proclaims that those who can live on God's holy hill are those who are blameless and doing what is right.
From the mountains, then, the voice of justice cries out. From the mountains, God pleas for justice.
And yet, on any given moment of any given day, we drive by mountains and do not hear what is going on, do not look to the mountains for a message, do not do anything perhaps but keep our eye on the road in front of our own journey.
In what ways can we stop. look. listen. and REALLY hear the world around us? We can start by trying to tune into the sounds in our immediate world. Then perhaps we can try to connect those sounds to the world beyond us. And connect our lives to the lives outside or walls. And connect our hearts to the hearts outside ourselves.
What do you hear in your world today? Email me or comment below.
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