Earning Ears

To whom do you listen?

In our private lives, that question is easily answered. Nothing is all that simple. Many times we’re faced with issues where the information flying at us is confusing at best. It is then we turn to those that have earned our ears. We’ve had a history with them that confirms that their walk with us matches their talk to us. We’ve seen the good they’ve done in our lives and community and in the process, they’ve earned a place of respect…they’ve earned our ears.

In the public arena, identifying those folks is much harder. In a world of spin, deceit and anonymity that is all too often devoid of accountability, to whom do you listen? When it comes to making the kinds of societal decisions we all must make and you’re not sure you’re getting the straight scoop, to whom do you turn?

Our area is rife with examples of opposing positions and the consequential controversy that always accompanies disagreement. In each case those affected must take positions, make choices. And in each case there is a plethora of voices.

To whom do you listen?

In the noise of the conflict consider who it is that is talking…or yelling. What have they done to date to earn your ears? What do you know about those voices clambering for your attention? Note the ones you know and the ones you never heard of until now. Of the latter, take the time to wonder why you haven’t heard of them until now and why it is ‘now’ that you’re hearing from them. And then decide to whom you’re going to listen, the loudest person in the room, or the most proven.

I would suggest we start with the most proven, those that have earned our ears, whose service to us is well documented, substantive and is bearing fruit…even if we don’t always like what they are saying. As it says in the book of Proverbs – “The wounds of a friend are faithful, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful…”

Just as in our personal lives, we as a city, region and nation have a lot of decisions to make in the next year or so. In a world where the voices aiming for our ears are only growing in number, it is tempting to listen to the loudest and most simplistic slogan rather than deal with the devil of the details. But the voice that is the most compelling shouldn’t be the one that is just yelling. It should be the one that has the track record that has earned our ears and cares enough to keep doing so, even if it hurts.

Since at the end of the day we must own our decisions and the consequences they carry, it make sense to at least start that decision making process with the sources that have already earned our ears.

To whom will you listen?