Axioms…from my perspective

i dedicate thursdays to giving some of my personal life axioms…truth that, from my perspective, is self-evident. sometimes practical. sometimes philosophical. sometimes whimsical. but truth, no less.

“sitting and talking is a great thing.”

this one seems so simple and un-profound…something all of us should just know.  in fact, i think most people know it’s true, but few actually do it as a regular, intentional discipline.

i have been amazed throughout the course of my life at the inability of both young people and adults to sit and carry on an intelligent, transparent and meaningful conversation.

we now have multiple generations of people who have grown up in front of screens…movie screens…television screens…computer screens…flat screens…cell phone screens…all of which have broken down our ability (and even willingness) to go face-to-face.

we need to take time to sit and talk to each other.  husbands and wives need to talk.  parents and kids need to talk.  friends need to talk…really talk.

we need to talk about what we are learning and about what we are feeling.  we need to talk about our mistakes and fears and what makes us angry.  we need to talk about dreams and goals and failures and disappointments.

we need to stop talking so much about other people.

we need to sit and talk about our faith and our doubts and where those two are in conflict.

we need to hear more…forgive more…understand more…explain more…open up more.

we need to move our conversations beyond the shallow and mundane.  we need to be willing to risk honesty.  we need to dig deeper inside ourselves and take others with us.  we need to stop being afraid of baring our souls and start being afraid of the dangers of isolation, emptiness, and denial.

we need to stop worrying so much about what others think of us and start focusing on integrity in our conversations.  and we need to quit being embarrassed when people see us for who we really are.  who are we trying to fool?

we need to learn to reflect daily on what god is doing in our lives and pass it on to those that are closest.  we need to look carefully and thoughtfully at all of life and don’t be afraid to ask the tough questions.

conversation is the oxygen of relationships.  without it, we will suffocate.  without it, we will die.

#honesty #integrity #openness #talking