Too Many Words, Too Much Silence

Last updated on: January 13, 2011 at 9:29 am by luxpickel

Too Many Words, Too Much Silence 2011-01-13T09:29:57-08:00 luxpickel

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In these days following the horror of the shootings in Arizona, I have been almost paralyzed: surely there have been too many words, but there has also been too much silence.

Too many words in the face of devastation demands our silence:

a grieving silence, too deep for words
a thoughtful silence, pondering in our hearts what these thing can mean
a respectful silence, without presuming to know what the first circle of loved one are experiencing
an attentive silence to the wisdom that may emerge from the constellation of events
a prayerful silence: Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison.

However, too much silence in the face of devastation demands our words:

words of consolation and comfort to the mourning ones
words of gentleness and encouragement to the waiting and watching ones
words of praise and gratitude for the helping ones
words of truth-telling to those whose power can make a difference in limiting possibility for future disasters
words that exemplifies the kind of speech that makes for peace, for harmony, for wholeness; from Colossians–“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt…”

And so as we continue to mourn, to hope, to work for mercy and justice in our human systems, I am challenged to once again be mindful of what I say, and how I say it, when I say it and to whom. Right along side that I am reminded to keep silent when the time is right, paying ever so much attention to the Wisdom from Above who can put words in my mouth or put a seal over my lips.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O God, my rock and my redeemer.

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