Thoughts to Ponder, September 28, 2016
“Truth is always calm. Still. Quietly and intensely alive.”
Martha Beck*
That quote seems contrary to the way most of us think. We can all remember various famous people who spoke with anger and derision in their voices. They shouted their beliefs loudly and repeatedly to convince others to their points of view. A few that come to my mind are various rulers who sought/seek to conquer, politicians wanting to make a point and preachers seeking converts. They persuaded many to follow their teachings, but were ultimately deposed or faded from public awareness. We read about them in historic and current books that show us the folly of their stances and their short lived dominance and fame.
Many of us still think that the loudest person wins the argument. Today’s politicians, commentators, co-workers and neighbors try to prove that point daily. They think that many big words and volume are persuasive. Instead of being persuaded, we are tempted to argue. Soon people are taking sides and trying to see who can yell the loudest.
On the other hand we find that teachers like Jesus, Marcus Aurelius, the Buddha, George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Dr. M.L. King, the Dalai Lama, Pope Francis and many others spoke/speak their truth calmly, quietly and eloquently. Their teachings have stayed with us for generations. We can feel the truth of what they had/have to say.
If we emulate those teachers I mentioned and others like them, we will find that we will be more persuasive and, overall, the world will be quieter and calmer. It’s hard to argue with someone who quietly states the truth with knowledge and wisdom. If we disagree with their premise, we tend to copy that person’s speech patterns which results in a discussion rather than an argument. Discussion solves many more problems than do arguments.
Spirit,
Thank you for showing us that quiet and calm speaks the truth better than anger and intensity. We choose to live our lives quietly, calmly and persuasively.
And, so it is.
*Martha’s Daily Inspiration, September 15, 2016, info@marthabeck.com
© by Sharon D. Dillon, September 28, 2016
Sharon D. Dillon, energywriter@cox.net, http://energywriter.me “Laugh your way to peace, love and joy” Author of Echoes of your Choices, 2016, available as an e-book or paperback at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other online sites.
Chesapeake Bay Writers, Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop, Southern Humorists, National Society of Newspaper Columnists, Voices of Williamsburg Toastmasters Club.
Laugh your way to peace, love and joy 
We could use more quiet and less bluster right now! Well written Sharon.
Thank you, Joann. So true. I’m so tired of people trying to out shout each other.
Darnit, as always I missed the point. I guess I’ll have to stick with the one coming out of my head.
Yeah, right! Thanks for the giggle.
Sharon, you know how I hate to be the cudgemudgen in the Kermit Creation. I think you’re spot on when it comes to the virtues of moderation, calm, mutual respect. These are human inventions that may be our most precious…along with the wheel and ladder and toilets. Plus, they are rational…maybe not the toilet. Regardless, I’m very suspicious and skeptically when the word “Truth” rears its head. I’ve found the various worlds of Truth, Love, and Patriotism are inhabited too often by egoistic charlatans. When my path has wandered across people who know the Truth, I learned to start running for cover. It’s a dangerous human who knows the truth, and the fields of bloodshed are littered with their disciples. There was a man to whom was attributed the statement “I am the way, the truth, and the light; no man cometh onto the Father but by me.” That’s a big testimonial to utter considering that most likely He went to the bathroom like the rest of us. The Pythagorean Theorem may be as close to the truth as humans rub, all else I suspect is up for grabs. Nice observations again.
Toilet is way up top of the list for me. 🙂 Jesus had to use the bathroom??? :)))
As usual, you are correct. I was using that quote as a starting point to say that we don’t need to make a lot of noise or hoopla to get our point across – if our point is valid. Our world has so many “truths” that we have to examine each one carefully before accepting it as our own. I’ve come to accept a certain “truth” as my basis for thinking/action, but I also know that may change as I live life and see what happens next. It would be great to see more people examine shades of gray rather than looking at the world as black and white and never the twain shall meet.
Excellent observation, Sharon. Greatness shines through regardless of volumn, and loudness can call attention to one’s ignorance more rapidly than silence.
So true. Besides the current political shenanigans we can also apply this to tv and radio ads and anyone we meet.
Great piece, Sharon! I totally agree that leaders who “speak their truth calmly, quietly and eloquently” are the leaders most deserving of respect and of being remembered. Of the names you mentioned, George Washington is the one that strikes me as sort of a mixed example, on a lower moral tier than all or at least most of the others, because he owned slaves.
Thank you, Dave. I agree with your assessment, but was trying to stay focused on his leadership skills.