Dan Kuehl
September 24, 2008
Junior Theology

Right Speech Experiment

          After I observed my language, I was surprised by how and when I deviated from the truth. The first time I deviated from the truth was at work. A coworker of mine made a comment about another coworker, and I quickly offered an exaggerated story about when that person tried to act like the shift-leader and only made a fool of himself since no one listened to him. We poked fun at him for a little while before returning to work. Later at work, on my break, I complained that I was tired of working, even though I only work one or two days a week. My boss has been very flexible with my schedule and I should be more appreciative of her. When I got off work, I wanted to go hang out with my friends. I asked my mom if I could go over to Wilson’s house and she quickly asked “Is it o.k. with his mom?” I answered “Yes,” even though I knew his mom wasn’t even home. I just wanted to get out of there and go hang out. Later that evening, I called my mom and asked if I could spend the night at Nick’s house. She asked the same question and I gave the same answer. Then she asked, “Should I call Mrs. Graf?” Since it was late I said, “No, don’t bother her, she probably going to bed.” I got another question, “Won’t you be tired for work tomorrow morning?” “Uhh, no, I did this before, and we’re not going to stay up that late anyway. “I think Drew has to go somewhere early tomorrow, so he’ll have to get up, too.” I finally got the response I wanted, so I hung up and went over to Nick’s.

          I have never really examined my speech, and I found that when I deviated from truth and charity, I not only hurt myself, but I also hurt other people who have done nothing against me. My coworker, my boss and my mom have never done anything bad to me or for me, but I still hurt my relationship with them, though none of us really knew it at the time. By making fun of my coworker, I only belittled him and I am sure that if he would have heard us, he would not have been rightfully angry. I do not think that my boss would have liked me complaining about work, especially since she is good about scheduling me when I feel I can work. I think I lie to my parents because I do not want them butting into my life (though I know that is their job). I am just tired of being grilled with questions every time I try to go out of the house. “Where are you going? When will you be back? Who is going to be there? Is it o.k. with their parents? What are you going to do?” I hate these questions because I do not think my mom needs to know and because I do not necessarily know that answers to all of the questions since we do not decide what we are going to do until we get together. Usually we just drive around or sit at the park, but even when I give this as an answer, it is not satisfactory and I get even more questions. So, I usually just say I’m going over to Tim’s house and I’ll be back in a little while and walk out the door before I am grilled. If all you knew about me was what is on this paper, you probably would think I was selfish jerk who has to get his way, but I do not think I am, though it sounds like it. Or maybe I am wrong, and I am always a bad person who lies and makes fun of people because I like it or because it is the easy way out. Actually, I do think I tell lies because it is easier that telling the truth and I think I made fun of my coworker because it was easier to join in than stand up for him. And I think I complained about my boss because I am lazy and would rather sit at home or hang out with my friends than work in a hot kitchen all day. It is interesting because I have always known that I deviated from truth and charity in my speech, but I never thought about why. I now think that I deviated in my speech because of my human condition, my concupiscence and that fact that I never thought about what I was saying, just blurting out what was easy and habitually comes to mind.