The power of silence

I didn’t write yesterday.

It wasn’t because I forgot or ran out of time. It wasn’t because I didn’t feel like writing or that couldn’t think of anything to write.

I didn’t write on purpose.

We live in a world where everyone has an opinion. And further than that, everyone feels the need to push his or her opinion into the public domain (myself included). There are some really great solutions that come from that mindset, but the downfall is that we talk too much and listen too little.

There is a time where the most appropriate thing we can do is just be quiet.

Yesterday was one of those days. We celebrated the incredible life of Martin Luther King, Jr.. We have unfortunately resolved to moving important dates in our nation’s history to the most convenient day that will give us a long weekend, but I’ll save that conversation for another day.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day was created to commemorate Mr. King’s birthday, which is actually on January 15th (1929, if you’re interested). Mr. King pushed for (and achieved) major progress in the civil rights mistake that our country made, and by some measures continues to make.

In this civil rights debate, there is a lot of talking. A LOT of talking. But yesterday, I decided to sit in silence and listen. To read the comments running through my feed, to look at the trending conversations on Twitter, to even read a little bit of news, which I normally avoid.

And then I did something I should have done a long time ago. I just took it all in. I listened and I was quiet.

Now, don’t misunderstand this message. I believe that we should stand up for injustices. I wholeheartedly believe that. But too many people are quick to make a sign for a cause before they really understand what the cause even means. And the only way we can understand the root of the issue is to listen to those that it’s affecting the most.

I’m not against marches or boycotts or any other legal form of protest that our country encourages. I just want to make sure that the thing I’m yelling about is something that I understand. And the only way for me to do that, again, is to listen.

Take some time today to listen. Not to judge. Not to dismantle an argument. Not to think of a counter-argument. But to listen with empathetic ears and hearts and minds.

And then… when the listening is done. Get out there and help the oppressed. Be their voice. Shake their hands. Look them in the eye and ask them what they really need (it’s never our pity… it’s our actions). And most of all, love them for exactly who God created them to be.

Because in the end… “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

From the bottom of my heart, thank you, Dr. King. (1/15/1929 - 4/4/1968)