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The Anglican Church in Tasmania Search |
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a healthy church...transformingLIFE |
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June 2005 |
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How are you?The English language has so many phrases and
questions that have become almost bereft of meaning. 'How
are you?' is one of them. The person asking does not really want to know how another is, generally speaking. It is like saying 'Goodbye' and not knowing you are saying 'God be with you'. Then there's that intensely irritating 'Have a nice day!' I know one elderly gentleman who replies to that enjoinder with 'Thank you, but I have made other arrangements.' Shades of 'Grumpy Old Men' perhaps, but when was the last time you asked someone how they were and really meant it? It can happen that the reply is 'Oh, you don't want to know.' That is a difficult one to deal with and a lack of further inquiry can make one feel a bit guilty for not being more solicitous or taking time to listen. Allowing someone to talk has often led to several cups of tea and a couple of hours at the kitchen table while hearing just exactly how the other one is. But isn't that what we should be prepared to do? Maybe we should mean it when we ask 'How are you?' and be ready to listen. So many people we greet each day are not well either in body or spirit, yet often reply 'Fine, thanks' no matter how they are feeling. As we've always said in our family, if you aren't prepared for the answer, don't ask the question.
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