Of Expression and Meditation

“So we see in the gift of eloquence, wherein some have such a facility and promptness, and that which we call a present wit, so easy, that they are ever ready upon all occasions, and never to be surprised; and others more heavy and slow, never venture to utter anything but what they have long premeditated, and taken great care and pains to fit and prepare.” Montaigne

Throughout my life I’ve contemplated the peculiar nature of people and their conversations.  Like Montaigne, I’ve seen that some seem to have an extreme ease with their communication and ability to respond to others.  On the other hand, I’ve also seen others who struggle with quick replies and whether because of ability or choice they think very carefully over what they say before speaking.  I believe that there is merit in both forms of speech.  There are many times in which we must be ready to express our opinions and beliefs quickly and clearly.  As well, there are many cases where we must be patient and thoughtful in our communication.

The need for quick speech is also made apparent in the scripture, “Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:” 1 Peter 3:15  In matters of faith, we must always be ready to respond when asked about our faith.  There are many instances in my life where I’ve been asked to share what our Church believes and positions of issues are.  I remember that the positive experiences in these cases were when I was able to respond quickly and with confidence.  Conversely, the negative experiences were when I was unable to reply and felt ashamed.  We must have the ability to respond quickly to the important questions in life.

Thoughtful speech is also made necessary in the way we communicate with our loved ones.  Intuitively we understand the need to think carefully about what we say to our family when faced with difficult situations.  One does not simply burst outright and say we should be tough when someone is struggling with the death of a loved one.  There are times to be quick and there are times to be thoughtful and sensitive.  We must be masters of both to be effective communicators.