Wednesday, August 7, 2024

Talk

A person talking to a person in a hallway

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 Before COVID years, I remember musing If my car didn’t leave the garage for the whole day.  This busy gal had stuff to do.  Stand aside because I am barreling through, and my car better be ready.  But once in awhile, it all happened right at home.  I could almost hear my car say thank you, I need a day of rest too.

 

That same sense of musing comes over me these days when I realize not a spoken word has been uttered all day.  Whole conversations happen in my mind.  I pray nonstop, in my mind.  I think and plan and direct my day – in my mind.  No phone calls, no doorbells, no words.  I don’t know this world of no-talking.  I get a bit lost in it.

 

A college chaplain, Rueben Welch, said often, “We really do need each other.” Simple enough.  I think the concept becomes complex when needing each other means “need” in the urgent sense.  I don’t mind a solitary day.  I get my run in, my laundry done, some computer work completed, then pour a bowl of cereal for dinner and read the next chapter.  Oooo, but when these days repeat themselves and my voice lies dormant back there in a corner, the need nearly drives me to go knocking on neighbors’ doors.  And I don’t even have anything to sell.

What do I do?  I wake up this raspy voice, walk my hallway and talk, out loud, to Jesus.  I listen to myself.  I try to imagine Him speaking aloud right back at me.  After a half hour of talking with my dearest friend, I’m good to go.  Really.  Sometimes I make a call myself, just to get back in shape.  Sometimes I drive myself to my kids’ house for a read aloud session with my littlebears.  I’m not going to let the quiet swallow me.  I go after talk.

 

At least that’s how I feel today.  Amused. 

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