Contribution to the Conversation

I don’t talk that much, really.

Those around me talk often. They talk a lot, actually. It’s only the headphones that gives me a degree of security from the incessant talking. I don’t mind though, because that evidently works for them as it works for me to just have my headphones on and get on with my work.

There was this running thing that putting my headphones on was like going into the cave and when I took them off to talk to others it was emerging from the cave to see the dwellers of the other worlds. I didn’t take offence to that, it was understandable as I didn’t muck in with the river of chatter that flowed around me.

I am not completely anti-social, though. There was one occasion when I emerged from the cave to converse with a colleague. What I love about that conversation was how she was completely comfortable sharing aspects of her life and even thoughtfully reflecting on why she did some of the things she did. I was happy to share the ‘safe’ aspects of my life, but it wasn’t about me, really. It was about showing interest in her and what was going on with her. It was a thoroughly satisfying conversation.

Later on, I was conversing about it with my brother. My brother is a great inspiration to me. He is the standard by which I measure the love I have for others, such is my high regard for him. He reminded me by example that it’s good to be grateful for the contributions people make to the conversation.

There is a great desire in me to make a greater contribution to the conversation. Not the flow of chat around me – the conversation of life around me. Make those contributions as and when I can.

When I emerge from the cave.

(Photo by Mihai Surdu on Unsplash)

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

C. L. J. Dryden