Which words would you select from your extremely vast and educated vocabulary to explain to the mother of a beloved 14 year old with spina bifida that some nurse at camp called it "an extremely stupid plan" to put this incredible young camper on a barge to "sail the ocean" because she is at an increased risk of drowning? What could possibly be said to an elderly couple, one of whom was a past post-secondary educator, when they "gift" you with an inscribed, leather bound edition of "The Book of Mormon" while at a lovely dinner in which faith was not even on the discussion agenda? And, what do you say to a dad whom you seriously love, but who refers to some of your closest friends as being "twisted" on the basis of their lifestyle choice/biology and doesn't realize that it isn't really an acceptable term to use for these individuals and yet... it's all he really knows?
Simply put... nothing. There really are no words to draw upon in these situations. Well, I'm not ruling it out completely that there are no words, however, if there are any... I do not know 'em! Instead, I merely sit there with an awkward smile or horrified look on my face because even despite my experience and exposure in the "real world" education... there is truly nothing that I can say which makes any of these situations any better.
I am really struggling with this notion of sitting in silence. I met with a lovely dear old friend last week who asked if it would be okay if we prayed before we parted ways. With this horrified look on my face, I told her it would be okay as long as she was doing the praying because after literally years of theological and conversational silence, I just do not have the words.
It's ironic really... the moments in which I long for words to speak to another, I cannot come up with a blessed word and in the moments in which I fear to speak at all, I am handed the opportunity on a silver platter and fear just shuts me riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight up.
No comments:
Post a Comment