Something to Say About Silence
“We have become so contaminated by our wordy world that we hold to the deceptive opinion that our words are more important than our silence.” -Henri M. Nouwen
In the days and weeks and, yes, months that this blog sat silent, I hadn’t forgotten about you. In fact I was sharing something with you in all of that silence. Did you get what I was trying to say?
Despite the joy it gives me to bring you guys new posts to read, my strongest message to you was probably the crickets you heard while refreshing the MorganDayCecil.com homepage these past few months. In all of this time doing the exact opposite of what the bloggy gurus tell you you must do in order to remain relevant and beloved in an RSS feed, I was actually sharing my number one tip on living life with romance and adventure. Did you figure out what it is?
If you didn’t get it yet, it’s not your fault, because I admit, my teaching methods were a little obscure. We like things to be spelled out for us. We (as in, me too!) like to be given how-to lessons with bullet points and actions steps. I neglected to give you any of that. But, I was hoping, praying even, that you would glean something in all that was not said.
Negative space is an interesting thing. It’s what makes music, music and certain pieces of art what they are. It also what makes this blog what it is. The periods of time where no new posts are happening (the negative space) gives meaning to what the published posts (the positive space) are hoping to say.
The use of negative space is a key element of artistic composition. And, as it turns out, it is a key element on how I compose my own life with balance and integrity; between actually living romance and adventure out there and writing about it in here.
I don’t mean to pit the reality of what happens out there with the reality that happens in here, as in, in the blogosphere/world of social media. Real friendships have formed for me in here. And for that reason in here deserves credit because it has affected and changed my out there in beautiful and meaningful ways. But out there is where my family is. It’s where my church is. It’s where I’m given the incredible honor to minister to people face to face. And it’s out there that the real challenge of living life with romance and adventure exists.
If I’m bold enough to make a claim that this blog offers you any real tips on living life with more romance and adventure than I better be prepared to actually live my own life romance and adventure. I’m guessing the real romance and adventure you are after takes place out there, not just in here. Am I right? (I hear there is something called Second Life that allows you to tap into cyberspace for romance and adventure. However awesome it may be, I warn you: it’s no substitute for the risk and reward of R & A out here).
So you want to hear it? The number one tip I can offer you to living life with more romance and adventure? Be present for it. Be present for your life. And if that means you need to disappear from in here for awhile, have the courage to do it.
Where might you need a little more “negative space” in your life?
If you are a designer, an artist or a musician, than you already know that the use of equal negative space, as a balance to positive space, is good for your work. Negative space as a principle of design is basic, but as a rule of life it is often overlooked. In design, negative space gives the eye a “place to rest,” increasing the appeal of a composition. In your life, negative space gives your heart a place to rest so your greatest creation, the legacy you lead both in here and out there, can have the greatest impact.
Oh yeah, the holidays are the perfect time to take this seriously. Happy Thanksgiving. I’ll see you again…
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