Conversation and Good Inheritance
Posted: Monday, April 13, 2009
by Jean Purcell
OpineBooks.com
Up just after dawn, when my coffee time came I went back to bed. I found a repeat program where John McCord ( Angela's Ashes ) and others answered questions about New York City's changes.
John McCord referred often to his Irish roots. He said that the West Side streets of NY used to be filled with children jumping rope and playing hop scotch and other games. "Now," he said, "they are not there. I don't know what they're doin'. Probably inside watching television or playing video games."
Mr. Geithner says things like "We expect the economy to take an upturn" and his intonation takes an upturn at " upturn," as in " upturn? " He expresses a statement as a question, as in "Would you like more cake?" Only he's saying, "We'd like more improvement, as "We'd like more improvement? " In fairness to him, he may not be aware of this pattern.
"Valley," as we know, comes from "Valley Girls," or vacuous speech, as from some newly rich that are highly impressed with themselves, due to their fortunes.
Pete Hamill was also on the C-Span panel and said that the best conversation, story telling, and literature have come historically not from the rich, but from middle or lower-middle class and or the poor.
Mr. McCord bemoaned the lack of real talk today. He said that at wakes in Ireland there was high value put on conversation and story telling. Some conversations went like this:
"Johnny, give us a story."
"I don't have a story."
"Johnny, give us a song, then."
"I don't sing."
"Alright, Johnny, recite something."
"I don't know anything to recite."
"Well then, Johnny, go home!"
I turned off the TV and lay in bed thinking. By then, it was about 7 a.m. I closed my eyes. The beginning of Psalm 103 came to mind and I wondered how much I could recite.
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name. Bless the Lord o my soul and forget not all his benefits. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases, who rescues thy life from the pit, and crowns thee with loving kindness and compassion."
That was as far as I could go. I used to know all of it.
Mr. Hamill mentioned Edith Wharton, who in describing the houses and interiors and carriages and dinners of the rich of New York showed the emptiness of that society from which she came and in which she lived.
"Today," Hamill said, "No one remembers all the rich who built grand houses early in the 20 th century in New York. No one remembers their names. Even their houses are no longer there." It's as if they never were.
Jesus was often in conversation with people. Some were religious hypocrities that asked questions, trying to trap Him. Jesus told His disciples that the blessed are the meek. "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." The meek shall inherit the earth.
Are you and I meek? Or do we mourn some loss of pride, or some lost estate, inheritance, or investment? We should not! Trusting in God, we hold a blessed inheritance, for "we are heirs of God with Christ." Believers in Jesus Christ are made heirs with Him. That is God's bank account set aside for us and we can draw from that account anytime. It is held in the promises of God and never runs dry.
Jesus said that "all these things (food, shelter, clothing) shall be added unto you," if you seek first the kingdom of God.
Later this morning my husband made eggs and toast for us. Helen, in home hospice with us, sat at peace in her lounge chair in the next room. I picked up my plate of eggs and toast and started to go in there to turn on the television for some news while I ate.
I saw that my husband had put his plate on the kitchen table, on a place mat, with knife and fork and jam nearby.
"Aren't you coming in here?" I asked at the door, just outside the kitchen.
"No, I'll sit here."
I turned back toward the kitchen table. "I'll sit here too."
We sat, ate, and had a real conversation. Ummm, simple and good.
We spoke to God, "Thank You, Lord, for this day, this food."
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Imagine all the misgivings that would never be if more folks took up the art of conversation, starting with myself.very enjoyable read.Hi, Ken, I agree! Sometimes it takes time to check our understanding or to clear things up. But rushing to the next thing often even blinds us to the need! Thanks so much for reading and commenting!
You are very right, Jane. I remember how we used to listen to stories and sing songs in the village while working the farm or in the moonlight. One particular story form, known in Bassa as Dyua-ka-dyu, could last for nights; actually it never ended, only suspended. We didn't have much back then, but we were certainly happier, because we enjoyed the human connection more deeply. Thanks for the article. ~mogama~
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