SILENCE ECHOES
IN THE DIN OF WARFARE
Journal of Healing – March 26, 2003
By Mary Koch
Words fail me.
Of all the gifts that have been given to us humans, one of the most powerful is the
gift of words. We string words into a language and we connect, one with another. Through
words we collectively create, remember, plan, share dreams and emotions, express love and
faith. Our words may heal and comfort, they may delight and amuse.
As with all tools, we humans are capable of misusing the tool of words. Words have the
power to cause hurt, guilt, anger, intolerance, mistrust, doubt and fear. Language can be
used to our benefit or for our destruction.
When the gift of words is lost, it becomes even more apparent how essential, how
powerful words are. My husband's loss of speech following his stroke nine years ago was
unthinkable. John had been a master of words. He was gifted in using them wisely and well.
How could they be taken from him?
* * *
WE FOUND a way to restore the power of language for John even though blinking
out words letter by letter is for him like flying paper airplanes would be for an
astronaut.
John had been a fast writer. He pounded out columns, news stories, editorials, a
hundred words or more a minute. Now it can take minutes for just one word, and each word
is precious. There are no wasted words.
I've had to learn to slow down. I have a lot to do (or think I do) and not enough time
to do it. Slowing down to wait for John's words takes patience and self-discipline —
sometimes more patience and discipline than I can muster.
"We're going to be late," I complain when I'm in a rush and John signals that
he has something to spell. "Can you tell me about it later?" I half-ask,
half-insist.
What choice does he have? More often than not, I pay for my impatience. He was trying
to tell me about something I'd forgotten, something that needed doing, something I'd
regret not knowing. And I pass up this valuable information — all because I think
there isn't time.
* * *
OUR PRESIDENT told us there was no more time for words, the words of diplomacy.
Words have been abandoned for another, more primitive human tool — the violence of
warfare. The opportunity for words was passed and in its place are targets of opportunity.
Billions and billions of words were uttered and issued before the war began —
words by politicians, diplomats, reporters, analysts, military leaders and citizens —
each and every one of us had something to say.
Did all those words fail us or did we fail to find the right words?
In the media, the flow of words continues. The flow, in fact, has become a torrent. But
it is all mere babble against the din of warfare.
My heart and my soul are empty of words, the kind of empty silence that comes with the
death of a loved one. I hear only the echo of words sung by a great and ancient warrior,
one who was also a master poet. "For God alone," wrote the psalmist, King David,
"my soul in silence waits."