The eloquence of silence

The eloquence of silence can be profound.

With no words at all it tells the story of humanity and the one truth that makes our time here on earth both beautiful and raw.

A silent stadium, a quiet swimming pool, a bureau full of emptied drawers all speak to the finiteness of seasons, of childhood, of life.

This vulnerability is one of our greatest gifts because it makes each moment precious.

So, we celebrate the sunshine and the touchdowns and the milestones and we’re grateful for the opportunities they bring.

And we recognize the fears we have for ourselves and for our loved ones and for the world around, because that awareness can make us wiser, more generous and more discerning of the risks we’re willing to take.

But they can also hold us back and that is the great conundrum — when our concern for our mortality diminishes our lives.

That’s what crossed my mind this weekend anyway when I attended an NFL game that ended early due to the severity of an injury on the field, and I spent the following day at the swimming pool during the final five hours of its season.

Life is short, man. We’d better flourish while we can.