Words, I have always maintained are limiting when it somes to fully expressing the intricate issues of the mind and heart. I want to believe that every writer, be it seasoned professional ones or amateur all come to that point where words are inadequate to express what needs to be said. I admit that some are more skilled and proven and do better in weaving words and using it as a tool of expression than others. But we all get to a point when words fail us.
But what do we do when words fail and yet we must communicate, we must transact? We go silent? Yes we do! But how do we hear that which is spoken in silence? We must be even quieter to hear the silent one. We’ve got to go in, there is no other way. Let the inner man pick up the signal, the message. Easier for some than others. This is pure torture for the extrovert, the chatty ones, the verbose. They talk there way in and out of every situation. To be alone with there thoughts and listen deep can be scary, intensely scary, yet it must be done. They feel they will totally loose control and descend into oblivion. The sense of loosing self is the propelling reason to keep talking. But nobody looses self in silence, if anything we discover self and encounter others deeper, for the real man is not on the surface. But how do we complete this transaction? We will know when the deal is done.
Two men sat opposite each other at the table, the transaction table! Business must take place, deal must be cut, words are not spoken. Poker face each stared, not intimidatingly or aggressively like boxers, but two seriously minded people saying, ‘show me your hand’, ‘give me my dues’. The first person took out a wad of money notes, counted some, put on the table, the second person did not flinch, did not even look in the direction of what was placed on the table. Silently they both waited, both unhurried or perturbed. After a long time, person one put some more money on the table. There was no movement from person two, however an observant person will see the tiny twitch of the left eye, blink and you will miss it. Aside from that there was nothing else. Another long period elapsed with nothing happening, person one brought out the reducing wad, half it and added to the pile on the table. This time there was a movement, a tiny turn of the head from person two, he looked at the pile on the table, looked at person one, turned his head away and continued his business of reflecting. For the first time , person one rose up, went to the shelf, checked out the price of the desired good and gasped! All along he had significantly undervalued, under priced. He went back to the table, counted all he had placed on the table, emptied out all his pockets and wallet, counted everything again, he was short! He rosed up went out of the shop, taking all his money with me, reflecting on whether he really wanted the good or not. ‘Was it worth all the trouble and effort?’ He asked himself. ‘No!’ He answered, so he went about his business. But the following days, weeks and months, he couldn’t get his mind off the item, so he went to his bank, his family, his friends, raised all the money required, went back to the table, sat down to transact with the right amount of money. This time around, there were no games, silently the right amount was placed on the table, silently the owner of the goods rose up, went to the shelf, got it, place it on the table. Both men shock hands, person one rose up happily with his item neatly tucked under his arm. Person two smugly counted his money and carried on with his business. When the price is paid in full, the silent transaction will be completed.
Jesus Christ had to pay a price on the cross. The Father ghosted him, there was silence. ‘My God, My God, why have you forsaken me’ he cried out. The silent transaction was going on, he died but also resurrected! The full price had to be paid in the silent transaction for the exchange to happen. Not all transactions take place in the noisy marketplace. There is more silence in the greatest of transactions as the market noise can be distracting.
Be still and know!
Beautiful Ivory 