Living Stones, together face to face.
What makes Open Ears so special? Why did 30 people make the journey to meet in person and spend a beautiful sunny Saturday inside? Why is being together so important?
My son C (11), daughter E (9) and husband Stephen (…!!!) attended the Summer Gathering and I asked them for their thoughts on the day.
E - It was good because of the pastries and there were lots of different types of food and lots of people went. I liked the activity because we could decorate rocks. I enjoyed the sign language because I could understand some of it. I liked that Gill did talks and that we are all living stones and Jesus is the corner stone. It’s like in a wall, if it doesn’t have a cornerstone it can’t stay up. I liked it because it is an example of real life as well. I enjoyed Marilyn Baker playing the piano and how she could do it without seeing.
C - I enjoyed being with different people and everyone being very different but similar at the same time. I enjoyed seeing the signers as it was interesting to see how the words turned into sign language. Some of it I could recognise and some I couldn’t, but I could work it out. I enjoyed controlling the microphone so that people could tune into the loop system and follow clearly what was happening.
Stephen – As a ‘first time Open Ears attender’ I was struck by how thrilled everyone was to be together. How appreciative everyone was to have had a day organised for them and how relaxed everyone was. There was a strong sense of community even though meeting together in person is infrequent.
As I (Sophie) reflected on the day, I was struck by the joy on people’s faces as they saw old friends, followed the Signers translating into Sign Language, reading the speech to text on the PowerPoint and hearing, either by text, sign language or loop system, how important they, as people with hearing loss, are to God as Living Stones. I was moved as I witnessed absolute freedom in worship, worship which was accessible, which was easy to follow and be a part of. I was humbled by the insights and the humour shared, the laughter and the tears as relationships were made, restored and strengthened.
I also found myself feeling great sadness as I was, once again faced with the negative impact of the high level of unawareness so many people have about hearing loss. To hear stories of how ignorant hearing people can be in understanding the importance of welcoming people who struggle to hear into groups and discussions was hard. We heard from people who had stopped going to group activities as they couldn’t follow what was happening and therefore felt unwelcome, how they stopped taking part publicly for fear of saying the ‘wrong thing’ and how they felt like they had very little to offer. I was challenged and encouraged by the voracity of some to overcome these challenges and saddened as there are very few who advocate for them and with them. But overall, I was thrilled that I could play a small part in such a wonderful day and witness why Open Ears is so special – it’s the people! Why people were willing to travel and be together – they belong, they are welcome and they understand and follow what is happening! Why is being together so important – it is a place where each person is valued, understood and given space to be themselves with other people and with God.