How To Listen To Life

In 1897, a musicologist and music critic for the New York Tribune named Henry Krehbeil wrote a book titled, “How to Listen to Music.” Henry said it was for the “untaught lovers of the art.”

Perhaps, that is what many of us may be,
untaught lovers of the art…of life.

And, just as Krehbeil’s eloquent explanation of each instrument’s role in the resulting harmony gave his readers a newly found interest in the concerto, so too, can we become better listeners of our daily experience.

When we listen to the world around us, we see things that suddenly have brighter colors of clarity. That is, their place in our life has more importance and appreciation.

Similar to a finely tuned musical performance, each day can bring the sound of highs and lows, providing meaningful contrast to the entire recital.

It’s the difference between merely hearing the confusing sounds of an array of instruments and actually, living in our personal concert.

The art of listening is, just that: an art. It must be practiced to be learned. Becoming the listener who knows what to listen for serves to amplify our appreciation for the music. Mere appearances no longer get in the way.

It’s amazing what we can see when we close our eyes.

I’ve heard it said that to truly be happy, you must have 3 things: something to do; someone to love; and something to look forward to.

“Something to do” refers to purpose. When you have a purpose you have the satisfaction of knowing that you matter; that you are giving back; and that you are making a difference.

“Someone to love” is someone to care about. Whether it’s your partner, family, or friend, love of another soul transcends all the names we give our relationships. We are never without the opportunity to direct our warmth toward another. And, sometimes “someone to love and care for is our “something to do.”

“Something to look forward to” can be whatever may give you joy in the future. Whether it’s climbing the highest mountain or just climbing into bed with a good book, the anticipation that you’ll soon be delighting in the event, no matter how simple, can make you smile with anticipation.

All the while, we pray for those we care about, for those who are hurting, and for ourselves. We ask the God we believe in to give us strength and guidance.

Yet, the greatest prayer we can offer Him is simply to say “thank you”. Thank you for the abundance of what matters most. Thank you for letting us feel the goodness that surrounds us.

Like Henry Krehbiel, we must become critics by his definition, “A critic’s job is to separate excellence from defect. He should excite curiosity, arouse interest, and pave the way to comprehension.”

That’s when we truly hear the symphony.

That’s how we listen to life.