Death is not worse pain than an empty life. -- Lun Tha

The girls were discussing a skit they were doing for a church program.  The Freshman said something to the effect of, "Oh, I'm her voice onstage," while referring to her acting partner and good friend, Flora. 

"Her voice?" I inserted, coming from the other side of the Resource Room.

"It's hard to act and talk at the same time," The Freshman informed me.

Now, that struck me.  Enough so that I made both The Freshman and Flora chuckle a little nervously as I opened my DayRunner_TM and jotted it down on the empty squares that start June. 

As a person who has indeed spent time on a stage over the years, I have not found this to be true, myself.  I personally wish to have control over my words and actions, putting them in synch without relying on a human, fallible "other" to do so for me.  (Not that I make any claim to inhuman infallibility, mind, I just prefer to rely on my own horse to get me someplace.)

But, I can still see The Freshman's point.  It is a responsibility to keep both the mouth and body under total control and focused progress. Difficult to make sure the words we use match our actions.  That our thoughts are in synch with our outward display. 

Some folks talk a good game.  Their words are glib, their expressions easy. They inspire confidence by the phrases that come from their mouths.  This is useful.

Some folks do worthwhile deeds.  They help, they listen, they put themselves out there to enrich the life of another person.   But they do it in silence.  This is useful, too.

But, the example we have is of a man who was able to talk and act at the same time. His actions suiting his words, and vice versa.  A man whose words spoke of eternity while his actions affected the immediate needs of those around him.

Until his final action, where his words and body demonstrated sacrifice for an eternity.

It is indeed hard to talk and act at the same time.  But when someone can, the results are more than useful. They are profound and can be life-changing.