The Power of Silence

Dear Boo and Bubble,

I read a quote the other day that really resonated – “Sometimes not saying anything is the best answer.  You see, silence can never be misquoted.”  It started me thinking about how, in today’s atmosphere of over-the-top rhetoric and the need to escalate conversation until everyone talks over each other, it is imperative that we not lose the ability to be silent – even if only as a counterweight to hyperbole.  We often forget just how powerful silence can be. The quote reminded me of an incident I witnessed years ago that perfectly illustrates my point.

Captain and I were with some friends, Bill and Alice Otis, for the 4th of July on their boat on the Waccamaw River near Pawleys Island, SC. We anchored at what would be accurately described as an old "swimming hole" in a bend in the river. Several other boats were anchored nearby and the beach exposed on the outer curve at low tide was packed with families picnicking on the shore. Children frolicked in the water, swimming and splashing around.  It was a perfect holiday afternoon.

All of a sudden a boat came around the bend at full speed. Even in sight of all of the people in the water, it did not slow down. Parents frantically called for their children to get out of the water. Those of us in boats began yelling at the driver to slow down. The boat kept coming. As it approached closer, we could see a panic-stricken woman, her arms straight and hands tightly gripping the wheel, trying to steer ….. the throttle just to her right pushed as far forward as it could go.  Apparently, the driver had fallen out somewhere down the river.  As everybody screamed at her to throttle down, it became obvious that she had no idea how to slow or stop the boat.  

It was a scene of total, perilous chaos.

In its midst, Bill stood on the bow of his boat -  perfectly still, no yelling or waving of the arms. His nonconforming presence miraculously caught the eye of the woman in the runaway boat. Without saying a word, he made the exaggerated motion of gearing the throttle down. Through all of the commotion, she saw this aberration of silence and reached over to the throttle and pulled it back. The boat slowed, its rear rising up gently, and it came to a stop.

By the grace of God and through the power of this silent act, no one was hurt.

The image of what happened that day remains vivid in my mind as does its lesson – sometimes one act of silent calm can have more positive impact that all the shouting in the world!