Living Loudly

Letting Your Actions Speak

I’m a people watcher.  It’s not only entertaining but you learn a lot.  People reveal a lot about themselves by the way they move and interact, the way they navigate what’s going on around them.  One positive thing about being an introvert is that often I tend to stay in the background to observe.  It gives me the ability to pick up on subtle nuances of behavior.  I’ve become adept at “reading the room” at gatherings which allows me to file away information about who I might want to get to know better.

I sometimes find that what someone is saying does not necessarily match up with what they are doing.  If you take the time to watch and listen, you begin to pick up on little behaviors that reveal character.  An example is someone who talks a big game, but it’s very much to hide their insecurities.  Ever know someone who uses humor to cover their true feelings about someone or a situation?  We all know that person who talks about what they own or what they’ve accomplished instead of anything personal about feelings or relationships.  And then there are those who are a little too “happy” to cover for the deep pain or difficulty they are going through. 

As I observe the people I come into contact with, I am most inspired by those who invest themselves in doing for others or taking on things that no one else wants to do without any desire for recognition.  You know, the humble servants among us.  You never hear about a lot of what they do because they don’t talk about it, they just go about doing it.  They take on the dirty jobs when no one is looking.  The give anonymously. They see a need and quietly meet it.  Their reward is not something tangible, it’s a satisfaction that can only be felt in the heart. 

Who are those quiet souls around you who bless people and never strive for reward, not even a “thank you”?  We all know them. The ones who show up before a need is even expressed and leave before anyone acknowledges them.  When I was working, often I would be the first to arrive at the office on snowy mornings.  There were a number of times that a kind soul would have already been there to clear a path from the parking spots to the office door. Whoever it was never revealed themselves or waited around to receive the gratitude, but I was completely blessed by their thoughtfulness.  I have a feeling their reward is a confidence that they are making life a little better or even a lot better and don’t need to be told they are.  They know they are the hands and feet of God and that’s all the thanks they need. 

Being a writer, of course words are important to me and I hope the writing is an encouragement to those who read. But even more, I hope I “practice what I preach”. The other day I encountered a quote that I wrote in my journal so I wouldn’t forget it.  It’s something William Channing said, “May your life preach more loudly than your lips.”  The way we live and move in our corners of the world speaks volumes more than anything we say.  Words can be helpful, but living out what we believe carries far more weight.  I want to strive to speak quietly and live loudly.  Hopefully my thoughts can become actions without ever having to say a word, and perhaps the way I live my life will be all I will need to say.