4 WriteStuff

I was reflecting this morning… the US Postal service’s financial woes have been all over the news lately. I’m wondering if this isn’t a major reflection on the the advance of cryptic communication in our society and the loss of more meaningful communication. As I say this, I think about the letters home which my Aunt Florence wrote from the missions field. Wow! They are a treasure! I can read them today and be inspired by her experiences, her bravery, her compassion. I also look back at the letters my grandmothers wrote, as I read them, I still feel a part of their lives. It was so meaningful that they took time to communicate, and today, years after they have passed, I can still feel the love they expressed in their letters. My family still has letters my grandfather wrote home from WWI. Today, nearly 100 years later, we can honor and treasure his experiences.

In this era, we text and email “How are you?” “Fine. and you?” “Work today, then meetings or game or ??…” How often do we go beyond superficial and really share who we are instead of what we are doing?

What is “communication?” Communication is the act of transmitting information or the exchange of information.

Does it seem that we now communicate little information of impact and receive even less?

As I evaluate my own communication, I note that I typically write letters once a year – yes, the annual Christmas letter where you try to effectively encapsulate the year in a few paragraphs. I have one relative who says I should keep it to one, one-sided page. That I can do… “It was a good year. We are fine. Schedule is full. How are you? Merry Christmas.”

In this “instant communication age,” have we lost the art of real communication or are we just too busy?

“Waste Not, Want Not”  – Not so interested in having my house and yard look like a waste disposal area. In regards to food, isn’t it more like “Waste Not, Waist ALOT?”

“She is a great housekeeper, her floors are so clean you could eat off them” – I really don’t mind using my dishwasher, so we use dishes at our house. The only thing that eats off the floor is the dog.

“You made your bed, now lie in it” – Really? I usually make my bed AFTER I lie in it.

“If you carry an acorn, you will have continued good luck and long life” – I would also expect you’ll attract a lot of squirrels.

“If you make a wish over burning onions, it will come true” – especially if that wish is to keep visitors away.

“Clean your plate, there are starving children in Africa” – I fail to see how my eating more helps starving children in Africa. It will however, help me look a lot like a dumpster in shape and size. How about you only cook enough for today’s meal unless you specifically want leftovers? The uncooked food is much more helpful to children in Africa.

“Use the same pencil for taking a test as was used for studying for the same test, the pencil will remember the answers.”  Maybe if you used the pencil a LOT to study for the test, YOU will remember the answers. 🙂