Remember today a particular Salesian confrere who is known among our circles as a 'man of few words, and long sentences'! He surely can go on and on about any topic, even the acknowledgement that he does not know anything about the topic!
I remember him once visiting the community where I was, with a very bad sore throat. That morning, before breakfast he asked me if I could arrange for some hot tea with turmeric for him - just to soothe his aching throat. And then when I did arrange that, he began to explain to me where, when and how his throat went bad!! My subtle reminder that giving the mouth a bit of rest would do good to the aching throat was met with another explanation of the scientific reason behind it!! So much for the poor throat.
As I remember him, I recall the words of Fr Lens regarding the length of a sermon during Mass: "5 minutes," he would say! "After that, the devil speaks!" Genuine listening, without interrupting or talking, is truly an art, a skill, a discipline. Now that requires patience and leads to wisdom. But to talk, I guess, even a sore throat would do!
I remember him once visiting the community where I was, with a very bad sore throat. That morning, before breakfast he asked me if I could arrange for some hot tea with turmeric for him - just to soothe his aching throat. And then when I did arrange that, he began to explain to me where, when and how his throat went bad!! My subtle reminder that giving the mouth a bit of rest would do good to the aching throat was met with another explanation of the scientific reason behind it!! So much for the poor throat.
As I remember him, I recall the words of Fr Lens regarding the length of a sermon during Mass: "5 minutes," he would say! "After that, the devil speaks!" Genuine listening, without interrupting or talking, is truly an art, a skill, a discipline. Now that requires patience and leads to wisdom. But to talk, I guess, even a sore throat would do!
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