Stopped Up Ears
I’m in a room surrounded by people who seem to seem to have stopped up ears. I’m saying something, but for some reason, they can’t seem to hear me. Nobody is looking my way when I speak. No one is turning my direction. No one is responding to me with their own words. They all seem to have stopped up ears.
Some have the latest noise canceling headphones on. They are focused on their own thoughts or their own task, and they don’t want to be distracted or disturbed. I get that. Some are listening to the latest jam, the latest hit, the coolest song they have ever heard. Some have their hands over their ears, or their fingers in them. That looks kind of weird, and I don’t know how they do that and still carry their kid or their backpack, but maybe I’m not seeing that right. And some have nothing over their ears, but they are still not responding, so their ears must be stopped up.
Can’t they hear my words, my heart, my cries of pain? Are they literally deaf or hard of hearing? I would get that, but why are they not paying any attention to me? Why are they not noticing me? Why are they not trying to check on me or ask what’s wrong, or ask me what they can do to help? I’m surrounded by people that can’t, or won’t, or just don’t want to hear. What is the deal here, Lord?
I have something in me that has to get out. I have to say it, sing it, scream it, do anything to get these feelings or ideas out. People around me don’t understand what’s going on inside of me. They don’t know the memories swimming around in my head, memories of abuse, neglect, trauma, brokenness, grief. I’m not designed to carry all that baggage and not get it out somehow. I have to let these thoughts and feelings out, but why aren’t people responding? Why aren’t they looking my way? Why aren’t they asking if I’m okay? Why do I feel alone in a crowded room?
Lord, thank you that you hear me when I cry, even if no one else can or will. You know my thoughts, my feelings, my pain, my brokenness. You see inside. You are in me since I asked you to save me, so you know me from the inside out. Thank you that I can always come to you and express what’s on my heart. I know I can hand my heart to you for healing. Lord, you are my listener, my healer, my compassionate friend. Sometimes I need your people to listen to me, but you know what’s going on in their heart too. Help me, Lord, to release all this to you and to let it go. God of compassion, God of love, God who sent Jesus to die for my sins, thank you for hearing my prayers. While I am waiting for others to respond, I know that you hear my words, have my heart, and will listen to my cries.
Jesus, please help us all to listen and to be heard in a world of people with stopped up ears. In your name we pray. Amen.