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A while ago I heard a story that inspired me to write the way I do. I don't remember it word for word, but it went something like this:
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The minister of a small church said there would be a special guest speaker who would be saying a few words about love.
After the minster backed away from the podium, an elderly man walked up to it, slowly gazed across the audience, and said, "Love."
He paused a moment until every eye was riveted on him, then shouted, "Love!"
He looked across the audience again with a gentle smile on his face. Not a breath could be heard as he whispered, "Love."
As he stepped away from the podium and headed back to his seat, the congregation erupted with applause.
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Some day, I hope to be able to reach people with my stories to the depth that old man did with just a few words.
Comments
You're forgetting
that sort of occurrence requires some 'induction' of the congregation to achieve the mass trance state. It would largely be performed by the people themselves in thinking themselves into a 'going to church state'. The priest or minister would then continue 'deepening' it until the speaker came along and took it that stage further.
Sadly it's a purely emotional involvement, with little or no intellectual effort by anyone participating. Lots of religious stuff follows this format, which is why it can be wonderful or very dangerous. Think political rallies, think Nuremberg 1938.
Angharad
Angharad
A different take
I think I understand what you're saying, Angharad. When I had first heard this story, I saw it a bit differently. What I saw was a speaker who understood an audience and an audience who understood a speaker so well, that a few words said at the right time in the right way could convey a lot of meaning.
That's something I try to do when I write short stories. I try to share, in just a few words, the breathtaking wonder I see every day. If I can do that, I'll feel I've accomplished something worthwhile. :)
Writer--Artist--Dreamer
Ah Angharad
If you've read some of my stories you've probably caught on that I'm no fan of organized religion.
Even so, I think you've given religion too deep a cut as the same kind of state or trance would be achieved in almost any group (as you brushed on in your last paragraph).
Think of fans at a soccer (football) match. How about salesmen at a training seminar? Perhaps the glazed expressions on the faces of Christmas carolers? I'm sure you can add dozens more.
That speaker could have enjoyed much the same kind of reaction at any of those events given the proper introduction and a good sound system.
Years ago I studied the psychology of the group. Widely held dynamics play out almost without fail.
I would also argue that the kind of thought process involved in reacting to that speech is as deep as thought actually goes for most people. In the U.S. we have gone to great lengths to create a national pride about our studied ignorance. For example: all of our political candidates for president except one hold that the Muslims hate the U.S. because of our freedom, which is utter nonsense. Only Ron Paul has had the courage to tell the truth and that is the Muslims hate us because they think we are trying to interfere with their religion, or disrespect their religious beliefs. Ron Paul has been held up for scorn because of his statements.
Another example would be evolution. The MAJORITY of adults in the U.S. now state they do not embrace the theories of Darwin. They try to make the discussion of evolution into a debate that ignores the possibility that Darwin's theories are correct, as if the answer lies somewhere in between reality and whatever childish notion they hold. Having spent my childhood on a farm, forming my childish notions, I have experienced first hand the impact of husbandry and can assure you that Darwin is absolutely correct.
We are a nation of people who want someone to think for us, because thinking outside the accepted box leaves you subject to contempt, which is the kind of freedom the Muslims hate us for, I guess. . .but then my parents weren't very bright, if that matters at all.
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
reaction
Snorts in incredulous semi amusement and turns away to walk out...
I do hate to say it... but cynicism rules here, sad but true. Even if I accept that the guy that spoke is genuine. That his three word speech is heartfelt and sincere... then I'm left wondering about the people running the whole show, those that put him forward. I wish it were otherwise and I was more open to possibilities, but...
I am glad Heather that people like you still exist to show me what I am perhaps missing. I love that you can do that, I really do. Sometimes I wish I could think the same way, but... beauty should be simple...
Kristina
the sermon of the leaf -or- stop me if you heard this one...
I think I get it. The old guy was emphasising the importance of love, and pointing in the direction of finding one's own better qualities by saying it simply, rather than laying on layers & layers of clever verbage. The only thing far fetched was the audience's universal enthusiasm for this message. Musta been a heck of a speaker.
My connection to faith has to be simple like this, I sure don't tackle the exact meaning of every comma in the Bible, Vedas or Tao te Ching, worried that I'll go to hell (or remain in the hell of "maya") if I don't get it all exactly right; Thrashing around with lofty philosophical concepts and fine points pulls me right out of my spirituality. And while---as I believe Angharad was saying---overly simplistic messages can lead to horrible craziness, so can overly complicated ones. Like those wacky existentialist killers Leopold and Loeb, or the Manson-esque rationalizations for killing ("You're actually doing them a favor...") called the Doctrine of Poa, that WWII-era Japanese Buddhist leaders set forth on behalf of the Empire's war effort. Folks sho' is crazy!
Supposedly the Gautama Buddha called a village together for a sermon, and when they were all expecting some eloquent oratory he just held up a leaf and smiled. The whole Sermon- On-The-Mount in pantomime.
Most didn't get it, wandered off in disgust, but a few found it life changing. That's the story anyway...
~~~hugs, Laika
"You can either fly Over the Rainbow or Under the Radar but you can do both..."
Economy of line
This fundamental concept of drawing, and particularly of cartoon and caricature art, that each line ideally is to have maximum impact, transfers to other media (such as literature), as well.
At the dedication of the Soldier's National Cemetary in Pennsylvania, Edward Everett was invited to deliver the keynote address. Following his speech, which ran for over two hours, another man, who had also been invited to the event -- almost as an afterthought, though, to deliver "a few appropriate remarks" -- stood and spoke for about 2-3 minutes, delivering 10 sentences and 272 words. Everett sent him a note the next day, in which he wrote: "I should be glad, if I could flatter myself that I came as near the central idea of the occasion in two hours, as you did in two minutes."
The impact of Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, which people have remembered and quoted long after Everett has been forgotten by all but historians, came at least in part as a result of his economy of words, like an artist's economy of line.
Hmmm... So, will these comments spark a debate about Lincoln and the Civil War? At least one of your readers gets it, Heather.
Molly
"Sometimes, I just can't help myself!" -Babs Bunny
Molly
"Sometimes, I just can't help myself!" -Babs Bunny