Hearing the Unspoken

Captivated, my eyes, hearing the unspoken story held so poignantly within the photograph hungered for more. Longing for connection, I sat held by a moment in time which spoke a story only heard with my eyes.

My journey into deep listening beckons me to a place of deeper intimacy and connection through compassionate listening, which often involves hearing the unspoken stories of others.

A “reading between the lines” of sorts; a willingness to linger without details, but with a desire of embracing the story held in all my eyes behold.

Welcome to Mindfulness Monday! Where we learn some easy ways to be more present “in the moment” at our jobs, in our homes, with our families and friends.

Learning to recognize God and what He has for us in each divine moment He offers. We acknowledge the belief that God is with us always.

We confess His presence is available to us, lifting our spirit and helping us with power and grace. Learning the art of “stillness” so we can hear His voice and view ourselves, others and our surroundings through His eyes.

If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.

Proverbs 18:13

hearing with your eyes

Many times our distracted listening habits keep us from truly hearing the unspoken story before our eyes. Compassionate listening involves more than our ears; it involves our hearts and our eyes.

The hard stories are told in silence.

But too often, rather than diligence in hearing (James 1:19) we rush in offering advice or our own opinion on a matter, and in so doing, miss the most important part of the story. Learning to listen with our heart and eyes as well as our ears, deepens our understanding of one another.

Tuned to the nuance of body language, voice intonation, and most importantly, the truth held in the eyes, we hear more through observation of our own eyes, than our ears will ever reveal.

hearing the unspoken

Mindfulness positions us for hearing the unspoken, as it invites us into the present moment using all of our senses to embrace the connection so necessary for the stories told in silence.

The next time you engage in extended conversation, practice using all of your senses as you listen, especially in the silent inbetween. Over time compassionate listening skills will become sharper and more easily employed.

But my favorite method for honing compassionate listening especially in the unspoken silence is hearing the story within photographs.

Sometimes it’s the words we choose not to say that speak most loudly about our character.

Lysa TerKeurst

When a Photograph Speaks

We have but to view an old family photograph, for the famous quote, “A picture is worth a thousand words” to enter our thoughts. Pouring over the details of the photo we once again travel to the exact time and place, as if it were but a moment away.

In much the same way, the medium of photojournalism captivates our senses, emotions, and hearts with an unspoken story we only hear with our eyes.

A moment in time captured with all its fullness in a way words might never express, exhibits the truth of a situation which far exceeds anything mere words might communicate.

Try honing your compassionate listening skills with the two photographs below. Look beyond the surface appearance of quick hearing, and with the aid of your senses embrace the nuances as you practice hearing the unspoken stories contained within them.

when the unspoken speaks

The iconic photo to the left was taken by Henri Cartier-Bresson in 1953 on the Puerta del Sol in Madrid. Published in “Les Européens” in 1955.

A priest had taken the Blessed Sacrament to a sick or dying person in company with the altar boy carrying his thurible. The procession stopped, the boy and those accompanying them waited outside.

What do you hear? I find the photograph both haunting and beautiful, even before I read the brief history.

What emotions do you see? What thoughts come to mind about the boy’s service? How is death and sickness depicted in this photograph? What is most striking about the photograph?

What unspoken story captivates you?

In the iconic photo to the right, Jonathan Bachman captured the exact moment on July 9, 2016, in Baton Rouge, LA, when Leshia Evans, a nurse from Pennsylvania, quietly stepped into the street, while two fully armored police opposed her.

Police in full riot gear had cleared the street of hundreds of protestors after the death of Alton Sterling, just moments before by pushing protestors to the side. Much like the civil rights photos of the 1960’s, this photograph tells an unspoken story.

What do you hear? The complexity and simplicity of the photograph collide for me into beauty.

What emotions do you hear? Can you view the scene objectively or do you stand on one side or the other? What contrast do you observe? What nuances of body language speak the loudest? What is most striking aspect of the photograph? What unspoken story captivates you?

leaning into the unspoken stories

Truly nurturing compassionate listening beckons us into the uncomfortableness of hearing the fullness of silence. Truly leaning into the unspoken stories requires courage to step into deep listening through all of the senses.

Some of the most striking photographs contain the depth of emotion held in the eyes of the subject. Pulling us in, they tell the unspoken hard no words can whisper.

If we desire deep connection and meaningful engagement, we must listen with every sense to not simply words, but all which longs for utterance in the unspoken quietness between the words.