When I hear the sad tones of someone feeling lonely in a crowd, the ache is not contained in space. It flows and flutters and pulls at heartstrings all around.

When I hear the elderly justify their actions with, “I’ve been here long enough to do or say whatever I want,” I wonder who didn’t hear them when they didn’t know what to do or say.

When I hear youthful plans to change the world, I wonder how we’ve gotten along all these years. I wonder who didn’t pay attention to them when they played and pretended to be themselves in the future.

When I hear the silence in a crowd of earbuds and headphones, I wonder about the theory of an expanding universe.

When I hear “famous” as the answer to “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I wonder if there’s an expiration date for the wish. I wonder what “influencer” really means.

When I hear “follow the science” I wonder about what we can’t measure. I wonder about the qualities, intangibles, and possibilities that inspire awe and make us sacrifice for things immeasurably bigger than ourselves—which is every relationship that matters.

When I hear we are soulless beings, I wonder if the words come from someone who has not looked into the eyes of an infant, not felt the unconditional love of a faithful pooch, and not gotten past falling in love to “for better and worse, in sickness and health, till death do us part.”

If we get over ourselves, we might see a child’s pretend play took the wrong off-ramp. In turn, we take the throne, refuse to question the authority we assumed, and ignore the still, small voice calling us home—all the while calling it “progress.” If we’d listen to the whispering voice for a moment we’d hear the wordless longing to soothe the lonely, hear the elderly, value what can’t be measured, and feel awe in the presence of our nature and Nature.

photo credit: Johannes Plenio