What Do You Hear?

This will be less a book review and more an introspection inspired by a book, but I will introduce you to the book nonetheless. The Sound Book: The Science of Sonic Wonders of the World by Trevor Cox digs deeply into strange sounds around the world, from natural caves to man-made oil storage tanks and sonic works of art. Touted as a "British academic and sound communicator," Mr. Cox has extensive experience studying sound and took to the road to see what he could see, or hear, as the case may be.

He first introduces the reader to something called a "soundwalk." Really, it's exactly what you would expect. As Hildegard Westercamp puts it, "A soundwalk is any excursion whose main purpose is listening to the environment. It is exposing our ears to every sound around us no matter where we are." (originally published in Sound Heritage, Volume III Number 4, Victoria B.C., 1974. Revised 2001.)

Westercamp also points out this is not as easy as it seems. We're used to avoiding "noise". In the process we miss out on birdsong, children's laughter in the park, and music we might otherwise hear. A soundwalk is an intentional exposure to sounds of all kinds.

Make time this week to go to the park. Find a comfortable spot to sit and listen, or walk a path. No ear buds, no book (I know -- coming from me that's tantamount to sacrilege). Just listen. What do you hear? Do you hear water rushing, or dripping? Do you hear animal chatter? Do you hear them scurrying through the duff? Do you hear traffic or airplanes? Do you hear people?

Cox, in his book, describes something they use in the lab, a chamber that effectively eliminates all sound. A sound proof box, as it were. Not a sensory deprivation chamber, because you're not floating and you have your eyes open. People find it unnerving when the scientist drops an object -- the person expects to hear a sound, but there isn't one. The scientists are testing sound perception, but the study turned into an interesting look at the human heart.

Those of us who live in city or suburbs say we want quiet. But that's not really what we're after. We can't stand absolute quiet. We want peaceful sounds of water, leaves, and animals,

But there's something still deeper that this study reveals. We use ear buds and constantly tap our phones because sitting quietly unnerves us. Talking to strangers also unnerves us, whether on a subway or in a coffee shop. If some gregarious coffee connoisseur tries to strike up a conversation with me, I get inwardly upset. You're not my friend; don't talk to me.

And we use ear buds and phones and TV and music to drown out the silence where God might speak. It unnerves us. Maybe because we're afraid of what we'll hear. Maybe because we secretly believe in our hearts, You don't know me. You're not my friend. Don't talk to me.

But oh, He does and He is and He will.

Turn it off today. Put it down. For five minutes. Listen to the sounds around you. Listen for God's voice.

If you are adamant that God is not your friend, let me know. We'll talk.