In an earlier post I mentioned that I was on voice rest due to a bad case of laryngitis. Since then I’ve been to the ENT and found that from teaching on it I have vocal nodules. The way to get rid of them is to be silent for an extended period of time. So, I’m quiet until further notice. I have a recheck next week to see if they are diminishing, but I may not be allowed to sing for quite a while, because they can come back if I’m not careful. Thus, voice therapy will be required after the voice rest. This week has been Spring Break, so I’ve had a rest from teaching, and I’ve had some young friends over to help with Marla, which has made voice rest pretty much achievable.

Being silent is challenging. If I have something to say, I must write it down. This is frustrating, for often when I’m writing, people tend to finish my thoughts for me, which sometimes makes me feel like just not writing anything at all, as the thoughts no longer feel like my own. Writing takes time, which is hard for the less patient people in my life, who then get frustrated with me because a simple conversation takes more time than they are prepared to invest.

Being silent is also a blessing as I’m learning to be a better listener. I’ve mentioned before that I’m a talker, and have learned that I tend to talk more than listen. I do hope that lesson carries far beyond voice rest.

I’m trying to find humor in it day to day. Charades can be fun with those in my life who like to play, and my coworkers at church have had great fun with my handicap in meetings. We’ve all played with ispeech during worship planning, experimenting with different goofy voices, and laughing over the way the computer doesn’t always get it right. Even though it’s hard to be quiet, these friends have helped me smile and laugh at myself in the midst of the frustration.

So, here’s to silence—may it prove to be golden.