Why would the Health Ministry focus on “hearing and hearing loss” for five Sunday Christian Education sessions? And engage a variety of people to deal with this concern?
What’s behind a series entitled, “Those Who Have Ears to Hear– Well!” Why should we consider our ears?- if we have no hearing loss?
Why make a big deal about a natural thing like hearing? Does loss affect that many people? Isn’t talk of “epidemic” rather ridiculous? Then why is there such a market for hearing aids? Don’t hearing aids take away the threat of losing hearing?
What is really lost? How does it affect a person’s everyday life? family? friends? work? choices? activities?
Aren’t there easier ways to overcome loss? trying harder? getting a little closer? turning up the volume? asking people to speak up a bit? or repeat what they said? or stop mumbling?
Why do some hearing-loss folks limit themselves so much? just fade away? stop being social? drop out of things? break off relationships?
Aren’t advanced hearing aids making a huge difference? eliminating the seriousness of hearing loss? Or do they not always help? make life more difficult? Are there other options? Is hearing loss more complicated than volume?
How come people don’t want to admit hearing loss? rarely talk about it? except to joke? Isn’t it just a part of getting older?
Can hearing loss be prevented? Is there such a thing as “hearing health”? What would that look like? Can we even do anything for hearing loss folks? as family or friends? as a church family? as a community?
What all is available to hearing loss folks? To those related to them?
What kind of spiritual issues or questions are buried in considering hearing loss? How does it affect faith and living out our faith? How does receptivity intersect with the physical capacity to hear?
Will it matter if I’m not aware of this stuff? Who will it affect? Is there a relationship between hearing loss and depression, and other emotional needs and disturbances? Are there aspects that the average hearer knows little or nothing about?
~Earl Laman, Health Ministry Member