The Art of Conversation

I walked along the beach early yesterday morning. ‘Good morning.’ ‘Lovely day isn’t it.’ It’s easy to get into conversations about the weather…

‘We’ve had some rain this week… It’s not as hot as it was last summer… It’s a lovely fresh breeze coming off the sea… It must be terrible for those living in Greece/Spain… With global warming it’s going to get worse, you know… It’s been a rum ole’ week…’

We Brits are good at talking about the weather.

I’ve had a number of recent conversations about people’s health… hip replacement surgery, cataract surgery, prostate cancer surgery, benign tumours, aggressive tumours, hospital stays, hospital avoidance, MRI scans, medications, physiotherapy, respite care…

I’m amazed how knowledgeable people are, experts in their ‘specialist subject’ that can be shared, in detail, at length…

Children often talking about their age. There’s a lovely exchange in ‘Blood Brothers’… Mickey and Edward are twins, brought up in different homes. They meet for the first time, not realising that they have the same birthday…

Mickey: ‘How old are you Eddie?

Edward: Seven.

Mickey: I’m older than you. I’m nearly eight

Edward: Well, I’m nearly eight, really…

Our grandchildren carry ID to show that they’re 18… Some folks keep their age secret, until they publicise it at a ‘big birthday’ (usually ending in a zero!) Yesterday I was chatting with Norman, ‘I’m seventy-six you know – how old are you?’ he said. Many older folks want to talk about their age…

Musing this morning on…

Conversations… Those whose conversations are generous, appreciative, kind, positive… those who are critical, complaining, fault-finding, destructive…

James’ wise words… ‘If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. (1:26) ‘… the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. (3:5)

The prayer/song/verse… ‘Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight…’