Too Plugged in to Hear!

On a cycle to work, one morning, I had two people who I passed, which ended up, being two completely opposite experiences to each other.
(I was on a shared pedestrian cycle way.)

The first person walking in front of me, had their headphones on.
I tried ringing my bell, several times, but it wasn’t heard.
I then tried speaking out, “Hello!” But it, also wasn’t heard.
In the end, as a last resort, I shouted out, rather loudly, “Coming past, Please.”
They finally heard me at the last moment, and then ended up being a bit startled, as I went past them.
I then carried on, being a bit irked by the encounter, but thankful (on some level) that a startled look, was the worst thing that happened.

Then I come across a dog walker, up in the distance.
“Oh no, here we go again”, I think.
I ring my bell, when I think it’s way too early. I’m thinking that they won’t hear it, from this distance?? But, they do hear it!!! ???
The path is a bit on the narrow side, so they make the choice to direct their dog, off of the path, to make room for me.
As I go past, they smile and say “Good morning”, to which I reply likewise, “Good morning”, with a smile.

What a difference the two interactions were!

The first one was a bit fraught, where as the second one was calm, easy and pleasant. Both smiling at each other, and even passing on a greeting.
By ringing my bell, when I thought it was way too early, it gave the dog walker, plenty of time to prepare for letting me go past, in a safe and pleasant way.

It left me, kind of thinking, if Our Lord God, is trying to speak a word to us, then are we able to hear Him?
Or are we too plugged into something else, so that we just don’t hear Him?
Can we end up having a startled look about us, because we missed a word of warning or preparation that He is trying to speak to us, because we aren’t open to hearing, His words, that He is trying to speak to us?
Can we unplug ourselves from the things that don’t matter, so that we can then hear, The One who does matter?
Our Lord God Almighty.

John 10:27-28
²⁷ My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.