Sometimes words are inadequate to transcend or assuage suffering or bring relief to pain. The congruence of silence and pain becomes even more evident later on in the account of Job when his friends began to speak.

It became apparent then how much they misapprehended what was going on. Silence it turned out after much grandstanding masquerading as eloquence (Job’s friends knew their stuff by the way. They just missed the point) was the most appropriate response.

The casual brushings off we humans give our kind when pain of any sort is mentioned is usually a ham-handed attempt to encourage said hurting person to rejoin the community of sentient beings lest depression set in and take over. Yes, pain is a problem. Pain is common. And, Randy, you’re right: care is not.

Having read ahead to the next posting about not being able to stand the quiet, I’m feeling somewhat inspired to say that we, ahem, I would do well to meet a fellow human being’s mention of pain with an understanding silence. A silence ready to listen. A silence that won’t overlook the person or the hurt in some valiant, nay, heroic effort to find a cure or solution. We can work on the healing together, later.

I’m having my Calculus class over in a couple of weeks because far too many of them have never seen “Holy Grail.” Look, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government.

Love you, bro.