I am experiencing what it’s like to lose my hearing before I lose my hearing. 

Many people struggle to hear well. I even wonder if the most used phrase in the world is, “What did you say?” 

We all use that phrase – maybe because there is other noise in the room, maybe because something else caught our attention, or maybe because the person speaking mumbled or dropped their voice a little. 

We all know what it is like to not hear something. 

I think I have good cause to have some hearing loss. In my teens and early twenties, I went to my fair share of rock concerts … and probably used up others’ fair shares as well. 

There wasn’t a concert that didn’t leave me with a little ringing in my ears. 

Though I haven’t been exposed to constant loud noise in my life, I’ve experienced enough. 

The first year I was a chaplain for the Kingston Frontenacs we held chapel in the opposing team’s dressing room. I don’t know if they do this on purpose but the visiting team’s dressing room is right below the cooling engine for the rink. To keep the ice from melting, this cooling system has to be on. And it is loud. 

I always felt like I was yelling at the players while giving my talk and praying. Fortunately we moved from that spot the next year.

My wife, Lily, has tinnitus. She always hears some competing noise with whoever is speaking to her. 

Then, as we get older, our ears naturally experience some hearing loss. 

About two months ago, I accidentally drove a Q-tip into my ear so hard it bled (read about that here). That certainly didn’t improve my hearing but, generally speaking, I can hear well. 

I do have a set of headphones I wear in my workout room though. I watch TV while I work out to keep my mind off of what I’m doing. The machines I use make so much noise that I would have to turn the TV up to a crazy volume to hear it. So I wear a pair of wireless headphones. 

The one problem with them is that they randomly cut out for maybe three or four seconds. Every time they do, it seems like it is right at the point when someone is saying something important. 

Three or four seconds is not much, but it is just enough to lose the context for what was said and make me feel like I’m missing something and am now in the dark. 

I’m sure that is how people who suffer hearing loss feel most of the time. It keeps you from engaging. It becomes easier to sit back and simply nod or just observe others and not be part of any conversation.

One thing for sure is I don’t like it. I’m not looking forward to the day my hearing goes. 

For now I’ll just get a new pair of headphones.

Here’s the thing: At Christmas time we tell the story of how Jesus came to earth. It is an amazing story, a story of how much God loves us. But it’s not the whole story. It’s just the part of God’s gift to us. It doesn’t tell us how to received this gift. It’s easy to hear this part of the story and, like hearing loss, not know what happens next and maybe check out of the conversation or just observe it. We all need to listen for the full story of how Jesus died to pay for our sin and how, by placing our faith in Him, we can receive God’s gift of love to us. 

That’s Life!

Paul

Question: What have you been missing out on? Leave your comments and questions below.

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