Silence Is Golden
I think a lot about the film A Man For All Seasons when the world goes nuts. He died for his resolve to bite his tongue.
The “silence is complicity” crowd are at it again and the pinch of incense they demand is outrage. I think in these times the loudest thing you can do as a Catholic is to remain silent.
Wait for the bishops to lead—Ive seen a few issue statements which I found heartening, I am seeing some good leadership from some good bishops.
Wait for the facts to be known. Headlines outpace data these days, and people are quick to take to the streets. Silence prevents you from (intentionally or unintentionally) choosing sides in a grave matter.
I remember hearing a tactic of the Chinese during a war, when they had American POWs, they would try to weaken their resolve by getting them to consent to a small claim (“china cant be all bad, right?”) and then stringing yeses together to arrive at a big claim (“the west are imperial oppressors and must be destroyed”). This is a trick of psychology also used in sales: getting one “yes” makes a second yes more likely. Our words are fruit borne of the heart, and they also have the power to defile our hearts. If we speak liberally on matters we are not committed to, we become committed to them.
I am convinced this is one of the powers of voting. An indifferent soul, by voting, quickly becomes a partisan to defend his choice.
But all this to say: words are NOT wind. They may not carry weight with others but your words matter to you and to God. Treasure your silence.
Our Natural Business Lies In Escaping
This is related in a way that hopefully will become clear, not least of all for A Man For All Seasons references. This morning in my hotel lobby there was a belligerent man shouting at people and intimidating people. I checked out quickly and made my exit. Police involvement seemed inevitable.
What ought a good samaritan do? Something was clearly wrong, there, but I had places to be and other people counting on me not getting into needless trouble. I prayed, as I left.
Speaking up, sometimes, means getting involved and getting involved means becoming a partisan. If i stepped up and got socked in the face, I am a victim and contributed nothing and now I am tied to this event inextricably. My days schedule is shot and I’d likely have to talk to the police. This is true for many things. The world wants you to get involved and St JME reminds us that the highest sign of divine predilection is to pass unnoticed. Our natural business lies in avoiding just these such situations unless God Himself brings us face to face with one we cannot escape.
Choose how you get involved carefully.
Living With Yourself
I have been doing an excess of introspection, as usual. I am increasingly conscious of my need to find a way to live with my own head. A lot of my own personal brand of suffering lies in not knowing where or how or how much to speak my mind. And more often than not speaking my mind has led to me being burned. Not everyone is trustworthy. I did not regard my own silence as more valuable than Gold in these regards.
So: how are we to balance the competing priorities of community, friendship, and an overabundance of thinking?
Prayer, first and foremost. God already knows your thoughts but theres nothing wrong with telling Him about them. He might help sort them out too. Writing, sure. But i think most of all just knowing what ideas NEED dialogue and what ideas WANT dialogue. If silence is golden, we should dole out our thoughts sparingly and our advice only to those who ask for it. (He says, unsolicited, on his blog.)
Biting ones tongue unless/until asked something specific is both purgative and prudent. In my experience, very very few people will ask. People tend to assume your views, and i have no problem letting them assume until its necessary to disabuse them of their illusions.
AMDG
Times-Dispatch of Vichy Earth 