Beyond the Notes | 10. Listen

Of all the people who pass through our lives, it is often those willing to offer a listening ear whom we remember most fondly, yet perhaps it is nature herself who is the greatest of these?

Dec 22, 2024

In this series, I share some of the pieces of music which have meant the most to me in my life, and the stories behind why they resonate so strongly within a life lived slowly and simply.

Of all the people who pass through our lives, it is, perhaps, those willing to offer a listening ear whom we remember most fondly. The people willing to lean in, to listen to us, often in our time of greatest need. They need speak no words, nor take any action, but to just simply listen. A few weeks ago, we went out for a meal, and inevitably, in the run-up to Christmas, it was very busy. Amidst the noise, happy as it was, it was hard to hear each other, never mind our lunch companion who sat across the table.

We often talk of a need to quieten the noise. Sometimes, it’s not a physical noise, but simply the silent chattering of our minds. My mind often feels busy, and perhaps especially so this second half of the year. It feels constantly occupied and relentlessly busy, with no ‘off button’ in sight. Quieting the noise around us is far from easy. I wrote a couple of weeks ago about seeking stillness; that in itself not always easy in a busy world.

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We are not always good at listening. It is easy to miss those subtle accompaniments of nature, whichever season we’re in. The gentle rustle of autumn’s leaves has been replaced by a juxtaposition between a howling gale and an uncomfortable, stark silence. Somehow, listening in this season is hard; sounds feel remote and distant, almost inaudible and indistinguishable.

The world lives life at break-neck speed, every ounce of its existence accompanied by the noise of traffic, machinery, music, chatter and electronic devices. As I sit to type this, the gentle hum of the central heating is punctuated by cars rattling along the road outside, a pipe shuddering, and doors opening and closing. I find even these most subtle of sounds an unwelcome distraction. These background noises seem to lurk in the shadows, neither distinctive nor comforting. That most welcome of listening ears feels distant.

But we cannot escape from noise, in the same way we cannot escape from listening. Learning to be a good listener is a skill to be acquired and practised. An ability to listen amidst the noise of the world is a great asset. In my view, one of the most beautiful and exquisite pieces of music ever written comes from the pen of Don Macdonald, When the Earth Stands Still:

Somehow, for me, it seems to so perfectly capture the mood of the season, evoking that magical winter feeling which is so evocative of time and place.

Come listen
In the silence of the moment before rain comes down
There's a deep sigh
In the quiet of the forest and the tall tree's crown

Amongst the deep sighs of our own life, as we seek those moments of silence and stillness, we can take inspiration from nature. “Come sit, and I will listen” she says; we stand in awesome stillness in the very moment in which we find ourselves. As we sigh, she sighs too. Perhaps nature herself offers us the greatest of listening ears, should we choose to hold and embrace her. Will you join me on that journey to find out?

Beyond the Notes | 10. Listen

Of all the people who pass through our lives, it is often those willing to offer a listening ear whom we remember most fondly, yet perhaps it is nature herself who is the greatest of these?

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