Okay... I GET it!

I recently had one of my faults brought to my attention. It was actually kind of funny. It was something I already knew about myself, but now that I'm "examining myself", it seemed like events transpired to really bring it home.

I've been wanting to share this with you for a few days now, but I keep being busy, between getting ready for a trip, and technical issues taking up my extra time.

Notice that last sentence above. While it is quite true, it is also quite long! That sentence is a great example of how not to write well. It's also a sample of my natural writing (and speaking) style. It's easy for me to use waaaaay too many words to say something. It's harder for me to be brief and to the point. That's one thing I work on in my writing. Being concise is one of the things I'm trying to improve about myself.

Which brings me to the events a few days ago. Because I really tend to use too many words when I talk! And of course I don't have the option to edit spoken words like I do with written communication.

So what were the events? Two incidents happened in the same day that both had the same obvious theme.

First, I was working on my "About Me" blurb in the right column of this blog. I had typed a whole lengthy story of my life, including my Internet misadventures over the past eight plus years... and finally I hit the SAVE button. Lo and behold, I had exceeded the limit of words. It could have told me sooner, stopped me from writing any more, or something... but no. It waited until I made a total fool of myself and spent all that time rambling on and on.

Well, that was the written part of the self-examination, self-realization "test"... and I had flunked it.

Later that same day, I had the spoken words exercise. This was the funny one... embarassing, yes, but it had me chuckling at myself. And, yeah, I flunked this part of the "test", too.

I was on the phone with another middle-aged lady. She had brought up some philosophical subject, and I had gotten long-winded about it. I was sharing my take on things, hopefully encouraging her in the right direction toward a more fulfilling life. At first I could hear her saying "Mmm-hmm" or making other comments. But at some point I realized I was rambling on into dead silence.

Now, when I mentioned earlier that I had been having technical issues, one of them is that two of my telephones are simultaneously dying of old age! Just in the past three weeks! One phone won't even dial any more because the touchtones don't register. I can answer it, but there's a loud buzzing in the background. The other phone doesn't hold a charge for very long.

That's the one I was talking on. I had already heard the "beep" that alerted me the battery was low. But it was still working, so I kept on chatting back and forth with my friend. By the time I got on a roll, I had forgotten all about the low battery. So that's how God got my attention. The phone just died while I was rambling on and on. I got "put in my place" for saying waaaaaaay too many words on the subject!

When I realized I'd been talking on and on to no one, I also realized I had been saying pretty much the same thing over and over, just in different words, for the past few minutes! Wow, Arline, you really need to learn when to stop talking!!! I had already made my point, but then I just kept going over the subject like an out-of-control bulldozer. (Can you say "Overkill"?)

"Yes, Lord, I get it! You're reminding me that I talk too much."

I think there's a verse that goes something like "Let your words be few, and seasoned with salt." Or maybe that's a couple of verses mixed together. Anyway, it's a great principle to strive for. Our words should give life and be uplifting, not trample people or bore them to death. A few words, "seasoned" properly, will be edifying.

On the other hand, too many words are sure to bring problems. "When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent." (Proverbs 10:19 RSV)

So that's something I'm working on. Wish me luck!

Okay, I've said enough words for this post, so it's time to stop.

Until next time.......
Happy discovering!