Almost weekly, I have conversations with long-time friends of mine about some pertinent topic, some relevant cultural trend, or something happening within one of our churches.  It is not rare for us to quickly get talking about theological truth or social awareness, and how the timeless truths of the Bible seem to remain no matter the political or economic landscape of the day.

These chats I have regularly with years-old friends often foster in me a desire to rise up and SAY something to the people around me.  When talking about anchor-truths with close friends, a fire is kindled in my mind and I long to share those thoughts with others, maybe as an encouragement, maybe as a voice chastening, yet loving…

Lately, though, I have been slower to pull that trigger.  It’s not because what I might say could be offensive, although there is that.  It’s not because someone’s feelings might get hurt.  It’s not out of some profound wisdom that has come over me, or a spiritual awakening of some kind.  Really, I find that it’s about being quiet.

For so much of my life I have had opportunity to speak and lead others with words.  So much of that time seems now wasted, because though there was something to be said, there was also something not to say.  Recently I shared three verses with a  young man in my life… it was Ecclesiastes 5:1-3:

1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God.  Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

2 Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God.  God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

3 As a dream comes when there are many cares, so the speech of a fool when there are many words.

The message in those verses is so straightforward and simple.  And rather quieting.  We all grew up with our mothers saying, “If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.”  I think there’s more to it than that.  Maybe even if there IS something good to say, you still might want to think twice before saying it… especially if you’re saying it to (or about) God.

These days everyone tries to make sure their voice gets heard.  Maybe it’s not utterly critical that we all be heard.  Maybe we’d be more relevant, and even heard  (and maybe more mysterious and intriguing!), if we spent less time trying to be heard, and more time listening.

There are many verses in the Bible that address speech/conduct.  I’ll close the post with this one from James 1:19:

19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry

The other day at the office, I missed an opportunity to go to the post office.  A work friend stopped by my desk and mentioned she had just returned from the post office, and I said, “Oh, man! I was going to mail this today,” and I pulled a Moleskine journal out of my computer bag.  My friend, Tommy Brooks, and I write to each other using this journal.  Yeah, it’s old school, and it’s different, but I think it’s really cool.

One of us writes a letter, just writing in the journal… then mails the notebook to the other guy.  As you quickly noticed, we will have a bunch of letters to each other together in the notebook when all is finished.  Who gets the notebook when it’s done?  I don’t know, but I know between me and Tommy that won’t be an issue.  It has already been a good experience for me, and we just started the process!  He wrote me, sent the journal, now I’m writing him and will send the notebook soon.

This reminds me of a time when I used to write letters almost daily.  My two freshman semesters of college, I wrote over 100 letters.  Can’t you just send email?  Can’t you just instant message?  Well, it isn’t a matter of ability, it’s a matter of choice.  There is something drastically different about receiving a physical something in the mail to read than in getting just another email.  Even if it is a long, nice email, drawn out with pictures and links.

You can’t curl up with an email.  You can’t get away from an electronic device with an email.  You can’t hold an email.  You can’t touch an email.  It takes more time to write a letter, and hence more thought.  It takes a different movement of the mind and hand, and more effort to send.  In the end, it is more rewarding for me, too, because it feels like something has been accomplished.  Later, I can go back to it, without opening my computer or iPhone… no browser or application required.

Writing letters is an exercise in thought and love.  My sincere desire is to retain 2 to 4 pen pals throughout my life.  There is a sharpening of the mind and an enlarging of the heart that accompanies the writing of letters.  And I get to practice my handwriting.  🙂

Anybody can writer an email.  Not just anyone is willing to write a letter.