Before COVID years, I remember musing If my car didn’t leave the garage for the whole day. This busy gal had stuff to do. Stand aside because I am barreling through, and my car better be ready. But once in awhile, it all happened right at home. I could almost hear my car say thank you, I need a day of rest too.

That same sense of musing comes over me these days when I realize not a spoken word has been uttered all day. Whole conversations happen in my mind. I pray nonstop, in my mind. I think and plan and direct my day – in my mind. No phone calls, no doorbells, no words. I don’t know this world of no-talking. I get a bit lost in it.

A college chaplain, Rueben Welch, said often, “We really do need each other.” Simple enough. I think the concept becomes complex when needing each other means “need” in the urgent sense. I don’t mind a solitary day. I get my run in, my laundry done, some computer work completed, then pour a bowl of cereal for dinner and read the next chapter. Oooo, but when these days repeat themselves and my voice lies dormant back there in a corner, the need nearly drives me to go knocking on neighbors’ doors. And I don’t even have anything to sell.

What do I do? I wake up this raspy voice, walk my hallway and talk, out loud, to Jesus. I listen to myself. I try to imagine Him speaking aloud right back at me. After a half hour of talking with my dearest friend, I’m good to go. Really. Sometimes I make a call myself, just to get back in shape. Sometimes I drive myself to my kids’ house for a read aloud session with my littlebears. I’m not going to let the quiet swallow me. I go after talk.

At least that’s how I feel today. Amused.