This speaker could really have done with something to brighten things up.
The time seemed to drag.
He kept on talking and talking, which wouldn’t have been so bad, but the tone of his voice wasn’t that engaging and the content he delivered was truly boring. Something about something being something that something would need to enable something to be something. I don’t know what he said, it was far too dull. And he went on for what seemed to be hours.
When someone said that he had only been going for 25 minutes and he’d be speaking for another 20 minutes … if he was keeping things to time … which didn’t always happen … the look of terror in my face betrayed the lack of love I had for this. Another 20 minutes at least? And he had made 25 minutes feel like half an age.
Give me strength.
It reminded me of how many times I’d been a part of something that was meant to be lively and engaging and only left me feeling drained of all life. That drained feeling and the dullness that accompanied that, didn’t seem to be what should have happened with the experience, but that’s exactly how I was feeling. Surely that wasn’t right.
After one particular experience a friend introduced me to a friend. This new friend did not do anything flashy. He wasn’t particularly outstanding to look at in terms of what he wore or any particular cologne. To all intents and purposes he appeared to be just a regular bloke. Then I got to knock around with him for a day. It’s not that he rushed from one thing to another, but the day seemed to fly by.
At one point he’d be delivering a presentation and his style of delivery was so relaxed and engaging. He’d ask pertinent questions at key points, drop in a few timely puns and quips that would alleviate the mood and give offer a few thoughts that made people nod their head and muse on it with interest. At the end of the presentation, the buzz in the room was more active than a bee’s hive. People chatting about what they had experienced. They had come in dubious and sceptical and left it enthused and animated.
At another juncture he’d go for lunch with a friend. It was clear that the friend wasn’t in the best of moods or state of life. He would give the friend all the room in the world to express himself, he would let him pour himself as they shared the lunch. My guy did not interrupt his friend to offer advice or wisdom. He just listened and when the friend was done, my guy would ask a few questions that made his friend think things through. That furrowed brow of the friend stopping to figure things out and consider alternatives. There was no eureka moment, it was clear not all the lights had been switched on. But the friend finished the meal in a better frame of mind than he started it, which might have also been assisted by my guy paying for the lunch and allowing his friend to get his favourite dessert as well.
I never thought watching a movie would be so fascinating. When we watched one after the lunch, it was as though my friend knew just the right moments to make an interjection. He did not spoil the watching experience. He was engrossed and that was clear as we left afterwards. He was interested in what I thought of the film and probed me for themes and issues that I hadn’t considered before. I didn’t think the film was that good, but after the conversation we had on the matter, I certainly saw it in a better light.
By the time it was our appointed hour of departure I didn’t believe it had been a full day. It had been so full and fulfilling, I didn’t want it to end. When I returned home and shared the day I had, some were expecting me to be exhausted, but I was really alert and awake and felt I could have stimulating conversations going well into the night and the early hours of the next day.
So refreshing and so life-enhancing. It really brightened things up.
That was the thought that was blessed me with a smile as I endured this speaker droning on and on. I knew then and I know now that life does not have to be this way. Experiences can be exchanged that doesn’t drain the life from you, but stimulates life in you and leave you refreshed and energised for the experience.
That really should brighten things up.
(Photo by Kenny Luo on Unsplash)
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 