I go down to a local dӧner stand to get some take-out. The cook asks me if I’d like to stay and have some
chai. I say, “Sorry...
next time... my wife and I... come… have tea with you.” He smiles graciously and says “Okay, sounds good.” I say goodbye and walk back home. Then I go back over the conversation in my
head and realize I actually didn’t say —“and
I.” So I basically invited him to
have tea with my wife... I laugh about
it. But I’m embarrassed just the same,
and in these moments [they happen a lot :) ] a lure toward reclusiveness pulls
on me.
Believe it or not, speaking with the vocabulary of a toddler
takes humility. Especially for people
(like me) who take a measure of pride in communicating well and in being articulate
in how I present myself. In these
moments, I’m finding I have much less humility than I imagined. It is disheartening and sobering. Basic language lessons have quickly become pressing
spiritual lessons. And at this point surprisingly,
growth in both is now very much connected.
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