Darkness. A porch lamp here and there. Stars filling the sky, but doing little to light our way.

As my son and I walked toward our house, we could hear the insects of the night ... calling to each other over the sounds of our footsteps.

We stopped to listen.

* * *

In pausing, the nighttime sounds seemed to crescendo.

All of a sudden, we were keenly aware of how loud things were around us.

Sometimes, it takes stopping — being still and quiet — in order to have an awareness of what’s around us.

This idea extends beyond evening walks, of course. It can applied to business, family, politics, culture ...

Take a moment to quiet the sounds of your own footsteps and your own work, and to listen deeply.

Really listen, and embrace the crescendo.