“In the time honored tradition of
email, just ignore the question.”
~ John Dobbin, principal at NEXUS IT
It was gossip pure and simple, but it was still a
story too juicy not to listen to. Bob had begun by saying, “Now whatever you
do, don’t tell anyone,” which simply guaranteed my rapt attention. We spoke in
hushed tones. Periodically Bob would pause and glance around carefully to make
sure no one else was listening in. He finished his tale with a flourish. “That’s the absolute truth,” he said with a wink. “I heard it directly from the source.” “Wow, that’s really something.” I responded. “Now remember, don’t tell anyone about this,” Bob finished with a nod indicating I was to agree. I nodded back. “Got it!” I whispered and headed down the hall.
Bob and I were both juniors in college. It was a
time before email, laptops and cell phones. Gossip was spread by the “one on
one” method. Of course this meant the story got “a little better” each time it
was told.
Within hours I had broken my promise to Bob not to
tell anyone. By the end of the week, I had forgotten how many times I had told
the story. Each and every time I finished my rendition with the catch phrase,
“And whatever you do…don’t tell anyone else.”
It was Wednesday afternoon, nine days later and I
was sitting in the campus center, drinking a cup of very bland coffee; talking
to one of my classmates. Looking around to make sure no one was listening in, I
leaned toward my friend and whispered, “Do you wanna hear a good story?”
My friend looked around as well then muttered,
“Sure,” nodding his head. It was the same story I had been telling for the past
week and a half so my delivery was now perfected. Unfortunately, my audience of
one seemed less than entertained. Undeterred, I pressed on to the conclusion;
finishing with the prerequisite, “And whatever you do, don’t tell anyone.”
I gazed across the table awaiting a gratifying
response. Instead, I received a deadpan stare. “What’s wrong?” I inquired. Then
came the unexpected response: “I told you that story and I told you
not to tell anyone.” Then I realized my mistake. I had just told the story, the
same story he had told me, to Bob.
The world has been blessed with instantaneous
electronic communication. In no time at all, we can send a text or email to any
number of people and they, in turn, can forward it along even more quickly.
Weekly, I receive any number of emails which with a plea for me to forward it
along to all of my unsuspecting friends. If I do so, I lend my own credibility
to a document, the validity of which I can no way verify.
In all the English-speaking courtrooms of the world,
this is aptly called “hearsay.” And, in most cases, it is inadmissible as proof
of anything. Jesus asks his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” Today we might first
check the tabloids, blogs, Twitter, Facebook, and a plethora of other
electronic sources to answer His question.
Then Jesus asks the key question: “Who do you
say that I am?” This question cannot be answered by “friending” Jesus on
Facebook or “following” him on Twitter or “connecting” with him on Linkedin.
“Who” Jesus is, is intensely personal. After all He was willing to die for us
before we ever came into existence.
Stories and gossip may be entertaining, but in an
age when communication has become so succinct, it is easy to forget our beliefs
go much deeper than an email. Our beliefs are a part of who we are and our
relationship with a loving God. Who do you say Jesus is? The answer to that question can only be found at the center of your being.
Dear God: Remind me daily who you are to me.
“Silence exists so that we might speak to God. And it is in silence
that God communicates His graces to us.” ~St. Vincent
de Paul, French Catholic Priest dedicated to serving the poor (1581-1660)
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