Day 34-Keeping Silent!

"Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he hold his tongue" (Proverbs 17:28).

It would appear that we live in a world where everyone is talking! The talking is not necessarily communication or dialogue it is nothing more than meaningless chatter. Small talk or chit-chat is so mindless, that even after spending ten minutes with someone we forget their name, and what the conversation was about.

Why do we talk so much? Many talk a lot because they do not like dealing with silence and what it affords. When I am silent, it causes me to have to think and ponder, so to keep from having any deep thoughts, beyond the superficial, I continue to talk. Many talk a lot because they really don't want to connect with the other person, so conversations are not really dialogues as much as they are monologues. Many talk a lot because they are insecure in themselves, they talk to keep the other person off guard and not think too much about what they are saying. We don't want them to know that maybe we are not as smart as they think we are.

It takes courage and strength to be silent. To stand in the strength of knowing who you are and you have nothing more to add to the convesation. It takes self-confidence to be silent. To be involved in a dialogue, but being so sure of yourself that you have articulated all that you need to share. It takes wisdom to know when to be quiet.

The writer of Proverbs is emphasizing the importance of silence. A wise person does not always have to engage in conversation and have the last word. Even when a fool takes the position that enough has been stated, looks like he is wise. Think of all of the issues that we have created in our lives because we did not know the right time to be quiet. Think of all of the times that we could have brought healing and instead we kept talking and we created wounds. We have to know when to be silent and hold our tongues.

Let us this day walk in a discerning spirit and manage our tongues.

Living with Faith and Power and Creating a Phenomenal Life!

Bishop Keith Russell Lee
Hoffman Estates, IL and Los Angeles, CA