Over a decade ago I started to wear hearing aids. Like everything else in life that is worthwhile and productive, hearing devices create a learning curve to achieve desired results.
The hearing devices I wear to cope with the challenges of single-sided deafness have audible signals which let me know when it is time to change the batteries. Even though an initial training session at the Cleveland Clinic made me aware of these signals, “hearing” them for the first time produced some confusion.
Several days after my orientation/training session on using the hearing aids, I was working at home. I heard the doorbell ring. I went to the front door to answer it. Nobody was there. The doorbell sounded again. I thought perhaps someone had gone to the side door, instead. So, I went to the side door to answer it. No one was there.
At this point two thoughts occurred to me. Either the doorbell had developed a short in the circuit and was not functioning properly, or there was someone running around the house pushing the doorbell buttons playing a prank on me.
Neither interpretation of the doorbell sound I was hearing was the case. It took several minutes for me to get past my annoyance and collect my thoughts enough to realize that the signal which I was hearing was the low battery signal from my hearing devices.
Indeed, in all walks of life and in every aspect of life, learning to recognize the signals and knowing what the signals MEAN is essential.
We are living in a time when it is easy to misinterpret the signals which come our way. We are living in a time when there are folks who work extremely hard to confuse the signals we encounter. There are folks who work to co-opt the definition of the signals around us for their personal gain. There are folks who intentionally give off the wrong signal because it prompts a response which is favorable, or more easily malleable, for furthering their political, ideological, racial, or even RELIGIOUS point of view.
Misinterpreting, ignoring or causing false signals to be sent and heard has been going on for a very long time. Jesus experienced it. In fact, the entire 14 th chapter of Mark’s Gospel record are the teachings of Jesus on the importance of developing an energized spirit that enables a powerful, personal awareness and reception of the signals God sends to each of us – signals which make us aware of what love requires, what justice demands and hope inspires.
Without this, all manner of confusion and destruction is possible. We can be
reduced to individuals and groups demonstrating single-sided deafness or worse, no “hearing” at all.
Without the ability to recognize the signals and know their meaning for ourselves everything we hear is a doorbell. We can find ourselves answering the wrong door or believing the signals are pranks, or “fake news” or the signals of some hoax.
Jesus teaches that WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR RECOGNIZING THE SIGNALS. WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR LEARNING THAT THE MEANING OF THE SIGNALS WHICH COME TO US TEACH THIS;
Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9).
He or she who has ears to hear, let them hear. (Mark 7:16, Luke 8:8, Matthew 11:15 – Just to mention a few.)