Speaking in Italics

Archbishop Theophilus made his way to the cell of Abba Pambo, a man recognized and acclaimed for his humility and wisdom. The brethren who accompanied Theophilus said to Abba Pambo, "Say something to the archbishop, so that he may be edified." Abba Pambo replied: "If he is not edified by my silence, he will not be edified by my speech." --Benedicta Ward, Sayings of the Desert Fathers

When I first read this a few years ago - probably at the breakfast table with Fr. Nicholas after Matins - I thought Abba Pambo was commenting on the archbishop's inability to hear. That is, I thought Abba Pambo was accusing the archbishop of not having spiritual ears to hear. But that interpretation of this little story only reveals the cynicism which was present in my heart. I recently ran across this story again in a book by Bishop Kallistos Ware (The Inner Kingdom) and for some reason it suddenly dawned on me that Abba Pambo was commenting on himself. He was in essence saying, "If my life without words doesn't communicate something useful to the archbishop, then certainly my words won't."

On the album "Truth Decay", T-Bone Burnett sings

She left for a party
With thieves and debutantes
All talked in italics
With so much nonchalance

"All talked in italics" - I think Abba Pambo would have appreciated that line. The silence he was speaking of is precisely the opposite of speaking in italics, and I find myself longing for this. Not in others...in myself.