I love engaging in conversations, from light banter to witty repartee to deep philosophical or theological discussions. I love telling and listening to stories, the funny and the inspiring ones specially. When I am sad or when I am happy, I love being with another person I can share my sadness or happiness with. Of late, it is becoming more and more of a challenge for me to engage in such conversations I love. I am becoming harder and harder of hearing. Sometimes, I hear the words but I am slow in the pick up. There are a lot of contexts and expressions that are new to me and I miss out on. Even in my prayer, which I see as a conversation with God, I experience difficulty connecting with him whom I am conversing with. Sometimes, I feel it smarter to just keep quiet and just absorb everything going on around me, listening to the sounds and conversation of others. And this sometimes is becoming oftener. Still, with hope and trust, I stay connected with persons, specially those dear to me. I am reminded of a quotation which I think is very apropos to me now: If you do not understand my silence, you will not understand my words.
A leper came to Jesus begging him, and kneeling he said to him, “If you choose, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do choose. Be made clean.” Mark 1:40-45