This morning Otto, age 3, was helping me with the morning chores. After he had taken the eggs to his mother and we had given hay to the rabbits Otto asked, "What is that sound dada?"
"I hear a car Otto." I replied.
Listening with his head cocked to the right as the sound of the car moved into the distance, "No, I hear an airplane."
Now it was my turn to cock my head. I could not hear the airplane. All I could hear was a flock of nearby birds whose proclamations seemed to drown out all other sound. Just as I was about ready to come to the conclusion that Otto was mistaken, there it was. I too heard the airplane. "I hear it too Otto but do you hear the birdies?"
Listening again, the seconds passed. Finally a smile came to his face. "Yes I hear the birdies. I hear a lot of birdies."
Because we do not hear something, does not mean that it is not there or that those who do hear it are wrong. Sometimes it just means we need to cock our heads, turn our ears to listening and filter out the other noise. Sometimes it is our job to listen. Sometimes it is our job to ask others to hear.
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