Beyond all the words is a place of great silence.
I recently read this sentence (or one much like it). I wish I remembered the source, but all I recall is being struck by its simple profundity. The context referred to endless talking, but my mind instantly shifted to writing.
Serious life writers, whatever form we choose, may find ourselves awash on a sea of our words. We write story after story, journal day-by-day. Words fall from fingers like autumn leaves from the tree of life.
I write, as many others do, not only to leave a legacy of personal and family history for future generations, not only to share with friends I know and haven’t yet met, but for understanding and insight. Journal entries, vignettes, essays, scribbled diagrams and mindmaps — these are all dots of understanding. Eventually dots connect into pictures, words into stories, and stories into understanding.
Until I read about the place of great silence, I assumed my words would pile up forever, and to what avail? Not even I will ever reread all the words I’ve written. So, what’s the point?
Now I see the point: to get to the place of great silence: a place of peace, beyond all the words. This place of great silence is surely the place meditators seek, the “peace that passes understanding.” I see it as a place where all the dots merge into a single source of perfect light, a place of wholeness, beyond understanding.
My word pile will continue to grow, as long as I draw breath. I love to write. Writing anchors my thoughts, stills and orders them. My words are stones on a path to understanding, but understanding is not the ultimate goal. That place of great silence, the place beyond understanding, beckons me with the promise of joyfully bright completion. I can go there right now. And come back to write again — until I’m ready to stay.
Write now: about your purpose for writing and what you hope to find beyond all the words.
10 comments :
Karen,
My six word memoir is "I live to write about life." And I write to visit the Place Beyond Words.
We are blessed to know about this place. I pray that others will find it too.
Hiro,
Thanks for stopping by. If I don't link to your site, it's because I can't read Japanese! But I love having visitors from all over the world.
I love your words Sharen! I pray also that I am able to reach that point as well. First, I must overcome the fear. I've kept all the words bottled up for so long that every time I've started to really write the emotions hit hard & strong and I don't have the time. (that's what I tell myselft anyway. I really enjoy your post's and am so glad you found me. God Bless!
Sharon, this post carries a profound lesson for all of us. We have all felt words getting in our way when we have tried to express ourselves. Gestures and actions often speak much louder than what we say. If we are especially skilled writers, our words may affect others both logically and emotionally. The silences we express and those we evoke may be a more enduring legacy than our words. There is lots more to say about this, but I will end with silence. Thanks for your beautifully expressed observation.
Sharon,
I'm so glad to have the opportunity to read your blog. This unusual and beautifully-written post reminds me powerfully of the relationship between words and silence. (When I studied acting in college, that relationship was crucial, but it's easy to forget its importance when writing.) Thanks for sharing it.
Comfort Writer,
I hope you can "feel the fear and do it anyway." I am no stranger to fear. Perhaps one of these days I'll do a post on discovering that fear is the opposite of love...
Gene, thanks for the encouragement. I hadn't thought so much about sharing the silence. Until you mentioned that, it was merely a precious personal gift.
Rosslyn,
Ah, a link to acting. Of course! I love how bloggers can cross-fertilize. Thanks for stopping by.
I am so happy to find your blog, to find other people that need to write. That simply do write. :-)
It's a beautiful thing. I intend to stop by often.
Thank you Sarah. Please do come back. I love the simple Truth in your blog!
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