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Gentlemen, are those sounds that we hear figments of our collective imaginations or are they resoundingly distinct? These sounds, from whence do they emanate? Are they cries for help, are they cries of someone seeking attention, are they cries of desperation, are they cries for acceptance, are they cries for fair and equal treatment, are they cries for a just and humane society with worldwide implications are, or, they the annoying sounds of malcontents?
The bumblebee dutifully flutters about performing its specific tasks; scientist tells us the task is to transfer nectar to other plants causing fertilization. We can safely assume that the growth of spring flowers will be a direct result of this process.
Take the azaleas, for instance, as this process goes through its final stages and materializes into a flower, we are blessed with one of the most soothing, aromatic, fragrances known to man. The pleasant aroma of the azaleas massages the olfactory glands of those fortunate enough to experience those loud, yet silent summer breezes that carry this fragrance throughout the atmosphere? Could this, in some mysterious way, increase the volume and allow us to clearly hear who is calling our name? If nothing more, can it at least pique our interest long enough to become momentarily silent, giving ourselves an opportunity to decipher those “screaming, gurgling, gut-wrenching,” whispers?
Do you think maybe, just maybe our vision will clear up long enough that we may possibly see those invisible tear-stained faces of those who are “screaming” those silent, whispering, sounds of despair, adorned by contorted faces, wrinkled brows, and perspiration-filled bodies and faces as they yell at the top of their lungs just to receive our acknowledgment?
The sweet nectar of life sits on our diverse palates as that of the nectar shared by the bumblebee, it doesn’t discriminate by flower, it simply goes about its day, incessantly fertilizing, listening and seeking to hear those who call its name.
Faith, Hope, and Love are not anomalies: according to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, these three world-renowned words rank at the very top of man’s existence. These are three of the more prominent if not the most prominent words that resonate with individuals all over the world, they are self-explanatory, their definitions are never confused, they may be ignored, they may not be adhered to and they may even be dismissed completely by those with tyrannical attitudes. However, their definitions are crystal clear.
As our names are being called are we responding in a duplicitous manner, do we systematically remove ourselves by reframing the conversation in a way that removes our names from the lips of the callers; consciously transferring audible request to inaudible babble reducing it to un-recognizable sign language morphing into the self-imposed transformation of auditory ignorance? Once this is done any obligation to answer the call of those that are calling our names are justifiable or so we lead ourselves to think that it is.
Who is calling my name: a hungry child, an abused and/or physically battered woman, the less fortunate, victims of injustices, systematic racism, catastrophic illnesses, man-made-disasters, mother nature’s wrath, misguided anger . . . the list is infinite.
Gentlemen, our names are being called! How can we “hear” in silence? How can we “hear” in silence?!
Our names are being called from every “corner” of the earth. Gentlemen, these pained voices will forever be audible unless we remove our self-imposed limitations. Geographical perimeters are set by the individual. We will never escape the voices of those who are calling our names.
© 2018 Melvin “Casey” Lars
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Photo credit: Getty Images
