"Plain, honest speech."
The last outward evidence of simplicity that I would like to share from Richard Foster's book, The Celebration of Discipline is using "plain, honest speech."
Over this winter, our local librarian introduced me to this poem. She said she had to memorize it as a child. She still knew it by heart.
Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening
Robert Frost
"Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there's some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
Frost, without a doubt, had a magic power with words. e. e. cummings used his power over words, shaping them and bending them. Shel Silverstein could use a child's fears and elation to create simple poems with lovely, yet simple details to paint a picture of a child's life.
The more I read, the more I am captivated by the power that some people have over words. I've been reading Roald Dahl's wonder-filled books to the kiddos. I am captivated by Dahl's use of details. His descriptions make read-alouds fascinating. From snozzberry wallpaper to the detailed escapades of James and his friends atop an over sized, floating peach, Dahl captures the imagination of the readers... making the book come to life.
Setting aside time to read about man's desire for simplicity, the more I am finding mention of the importance of the words which we speak and write down. Authors often mention keeping journals as a means to collect one's thoughts. In the same books, one would read of the importance of keeping promises and working to eliminate boasting in our lives.
I am also finding that books about simplicity can be r a t h e r l... o... n... g.
That's happened even here with my writings. Looking back over the first week and comparing those blogs to this, the fourth week, my writings have become longer, more detailed. I have found myself running in circles through past blogs, going back and finding I had already made the same point in previous writings. As if I was trying to impress, rather than just share...
I have learned a lesson or two about this from teaching the little ones at Sunday school. They have repeatedly accented the importance of simple speak to me many times. I'd prepare a lesson, share a story, make a connection to the children's lives and then check for understanding at the end. "Now, can you tell me what we learned today?"
Cricket whispers... church building settling. Those noises, but no answers to my questions.
This leaves me wondering, did I present the bible lesson or just talk out loud to myself. Did my words meet the needs of the children? Can I teach them to express, to talk about their learning?
Foster encourages his readers to "Reject jargon and abstract speculation whose purpose is to obscure and impress rather than illuminate and inform." I am challenged by that. Next week, it will be my goal to "speak less and talk more slowly." I was given this suggestion once when I was freaked out by having to speak in public.
Also, I will seek to find the importance of promises. Ask my wife and she'll tell you how many times I've questioned why I took on this task in the first place. Me... I can't speak in public. I don't know enough about anything to teach an adult Sunday school lesson. Those and hundreds of other excuses have come to mind. Fortunately, I believe in the power of a promise. I said I would do it, therefore I must.
Mr. Cummings shows us the simple details and how they paint a wonderful picture.
Link of the day...
http://www.poets.org/ April is National Poetry Month
Quote of the day...
"If thou art absolutely obedient to God, then there is no ambiguity in thee and... thou art mere simplicity before God."
-Soren Kierkegaard
Bible verse of the day...
"Let what you say be simply "Yes" or "No"; anything more than this becomes evil.
Matthew 5:27
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