When All You Can Do Is Talk, Talk

2021-03-01

I had a great conversation this weekend with a young friend about his work on a suicide hotline. One self-depreciating, but powerful thing he said, “all we can do is talk. But it helps.” It sure does. So many people don’t have meaningful conversations. They don’t feel heard or affirmed. It is lonely. Our talk reminded me of my Uncle who once told me, “people want to be known.” Think about it, who really knows you deeply? Who understands those thoughts you have that are guarded behind private eyes?

I had a great conversation this weekend with a young friend about his work on a suicide hotline. One self-depreciating, but powerful thing he said, “all we can do is talk. But it helps.”

It sure does. So many people don’t have meaningful conversations. They don’t feel heard or affirmed. It is lonely.

Our talk reminded me of my Uncle who once told me, “people want to be known.”

Think about it, who really knows you deeply? Who understands those thoughts you have that are guarded behind private eyes?

Psalm 19: 12-13 "But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults.

Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.

Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression."

Freedom of soul and spirit requires being known. If no one truly knows you, there will always be a part of you that feels like it is living in secret. That is where the dark things develop.

You start with God, and if you are lucky, (and it’s worth the risk,) you have one or two others in your life who truly know you.

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