What can be said when you run out of things to say? When an illness once beaten returns with a vengeance and days on this earth grow short, what can you say? When unspeakable tragedy occurs in a split second changing the course of someone’s life forever, what can you say? When devastating disaster wreaks havoc in the lives of innocent people, what can you say?
I’m sure you could find a lot of words to say, but would any of them be right? The right words are elusive but wrong or patronizing words are easy to find. There are things that we could say that wouldn’t help anyone. They might make those who are saying them feel a little better for having at least said something, anything. They would be of no use to the one sitting in the midst of their pain.
The human experience called life is profound in its complexity just as the language of man is complex in its attempt to give words to the experience. Metaphor and analogy take the place of direct description when the human language simply cannot capture the experience. Simile tries to re-frame the ethereal into palatable or tangible bits, easier to digest. But words and language have limitations. What happens when the limits of language have been reached?
Perhaps this becomes a time when the adage “actions speak louder than words” comes into focus. The actions, the deeds, the works display what words cannot convey. These don’t have to be deeds of grand achievement or profound meaning. In fact, simple works speak volumes. A kind gesture of support and presence is a powerful thing. Sitting with someone and holding their hand can have an effect that a thousand words wouldn’t. Paying attention and listening to someone tell their story is infinitely more helpful than spouting platitudes of pithy sayings, even from the most well-meaning of hearts.
What can be said when you run out of things to say? Nothing can be said. It’s then when something needs to be done.
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