The Sound of Metal

Have you seen the movie The Sound of Metal?   As a retired Audiologist, and now Spiritual Director, I could relate to this movie in several ways.

Ruben, the main character, experienced sudden hearing loss. The movie focuses on his struggle to adapt to this new place of silence. I get how Ruben wanted his hearing back. I knew a deaf woman at my church, Laurie.  She lost her hearing suddenly to a virus when she was 25 years old, the same age as Ruben.  She was devastated. Cried for months. But then this one woman went out of her way and encouraged her to keep going. Just like that deaf man in the movie who took Ruben into that home for the deaf.

Laurie chose to get a cochlear implant. You see, those who are born deaf or become deaf in childhood are a part of deaf culture.  A person who experiences sudden hearing loss may appear to fit in externally, but not internally. There is a difference.  

Later, Laurie met her husband, Mitch, who was hard of hearing and a teacher for the deaf.  They had two beautiful daughters and lived a happy, normal life.  She said they identify more with the hearing world. They would sign with one another when they aren’t wearing their hearing aids. Otherwise, they spoke to one to another.  They are kind and supportive of each other as they understand the difficulties of not being able to hear.

My daughter said it would have been a better ending if Ruben had chosen to go back to the deaf home.  But I thought differently. He was there for a season but did not fit long-term.  Externally, he learned sign language. Internally, he learned how to be alone. By sitting in that room, every day, alone, with his coffee and smashed donut, a pen, and a journal.  I want to imagine that he met God in that silent place as I do every morning. 

Noise is difficult for most hearing-impaired people. Hearing aids amplify all sounds. Newer technology helps filter out some of the noise but not like normal ears do. How our hearing was created is beyond comprehension. Even though Ruben had an implant, the background noises could sometimes be too much.

The end was profound.  With a frown on his face, he is sitting on a bench outside, with all the noises, when he took off the hearing aids attached to the implant. In that moment, he chose silence. With the noise gone, he could be present. He looked around his environment, focusing on what gave him peace and pleasure. A smile of acceptance and pleasure appeared on his face. He made peace with his “pain in life” and was okay to be alone.

Being alone is scary for some. Being comfortable in one’s skin, is hard for some. Embracing silence and solitude is difficult for some. Yet that is where we come to know ourselves and experience God.

No matter what happens in life, we can have that inner peace that goes beyond understanding.

I love my time of silence and solitude with God every morning. My coffee, a little scripture, daily reflection, and my journal.  No smashed donut.