The Rest Of The Story

By now, you have likely heard of the recent death of radio news icon, Paul Harvey. He was a pioneer in his field -- a giant in the radio news business. I grew up listening to "Paul Harvey News and Comment," usually broadcast over the noon hour. Then, if I was near a radio later in the afternoon, I would try to catch "The Rest of the Story." Several factors combined to make Mr. Harvey such a success. He had a nearly perfect voice for the job. Deep and resonant, his voice had a clarity that made for easy listening. He was a wordsmith -- one who chose his words carefully and assembled them just as carefully. Perhaps this is why I get so fed up with many of today's radio personalities. Their over-the-top antics and bombastic self-promotion only serve to highlight the true gentleman that was Paul Harvey.

He was also a master of the "pregnant pause." While he could use words with the best of them, he also knew how to use silence effectively. He was aware that a well-timed period of silence would add important emphasis to what he did have to say. There was no need to fill every second of air time with a verbal barrage. As I recall, his newscasts would always end with a significant pause before the final two words -- "Good day." The "Rest Of The Story" segments would conclude with the phrase: "And now you know…(long pause)…the rest of the story." Paul Harvey understood that silence truly can be golden.

The Bible also promotes the value of silence. No, I am not talking about the over-used and widely-abused habit of making laws of God out of what the God doesn't say. I'm speaking of the need for measuring our words. "Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few" (Ecclesiastes 5:2). Enough said!

God loves you!
Mike