On January 12, 2010, the island of Haiti was struck by a catastrophic earthquake. Unprecedented. Devastating. Life shattering.
Once the shock began to wear off, offers of help started pouring in from all around the world.
Popular music producer, Kirk Franklin, assembled a number of other award-winning gospel artists to join together in singing a song called “Are You Listening?”
Each verse begins by saying, “I can’t imagine how you felt as…” then goes on to mention some horrible circumstance that may have occurred during the tragedy.
The response comes in the form of a question, “Is there anybody out there listening?” Followed by, “Does anybody know my name?”
The answer rings back, “We were not there but we are here and we care, and yes, we feel your pain.” Along with the assurance that God has got the whole world in His hands.
As I wander through the halls of the school where I provide speech-language therapy to elementary age children, I wonder how many of the children there are silently crying out, “Is there anybody out there listening?” How many are so entrenched in the pain of their lack that they don’t even hear my offer to help?
When the BIG things happen, it seems so easy to dash to the rescue. So simple to put together a benefit concert, a fund drive, a mission trip. Yet how often, right under our noses, our own children get lost in the mire of their inability to thrive in test-driven environments with un-addressed developmental needs.
I wonder how many parents are willing to stop their talking, their self-absorption, their accumulation of stuff…and LISTEN to their children.
Great post and the ability of people to stop and listen is so limited in this day an age, your children, your colleagues, your business partners. God gave you 2 ears and 1 mouth!
Indeed, Andy. There is so much going on today, that if one doesn’t make a conscious effort to listen, it won’t happen.
When we check the body parts you mentioned, it’s quite clear what frequency of use was intended.