The author and his words accompany the heart
The author uses words, the singer uses music, so what medium do you use to serve? Is this medium an outlet, a tool, or a hiding shell? Whatever it is, do we all start with a gentle heart, using it to accompany others and have a place in their lives?
For you, for me, what is the written word?
No, I wouldn't dare to say that all authors should use words to accompany others, or that in the process of creation, they should constantly use words to care for, listen to, and encourage people.
Some authors don’t want to have "relationships" with too many people, and they are unwilling to engage in relationships even if they are formed through words. They may spend their entire lives as observers of the world, recording, analyzing, and synthesizing everything they observe with a detached perspective. Then there are others who are already overwhelmed by the interpersonal relationships they cannot avoid and just want to escape from the eyes of others, burying themselves at their desks, writing what they want to write.
Some authors only care about profound relationship interactions, which are exchanges beyond words, soul-stirring and deeply entangled with the soul. These relationships exhaust their emotions and time, wringing out enough water to dampen their manuscript pages.
Some people use words as an outlet, not to speak to anyone, but because they have something to say; some use words as tools, to attack, criticize, and expose. There are also those whose words are like a hermit crab's shell, allowing them to hide inside, moving around safely everywhere; and some use words as a way to love themselves.
What about you? What about me?
Before meeting Him, I used words to accompany myself, clarify myself, and organize my thoughts. Back then, I didn't write for publication, just as some people like to mumble to themselves, so did I. A stack of manuscript paper filled with dense text could actually be summarized in one sentence: Hey, I've arrived, I am here.
When I was little, I dreamed of becoming an invisible person—free and unrestrained, able to see others while they couldn't see me. Writing probably fulfilled this dream of being invisible. When recording my descriptions and feelings about the people and things around me, or even the words I wanted to say to others, I didn't have to be heard or seen. That sneaky kind of freedom filled me with delight.
After meeting Him, words became my journey of accompanying and loving people. Every time I type on the keyboard, I learn to enter a reality—God in my heart, people before my eyes.
Gentle companionship is care for life
Everyone has a different writing style; some are sharp, some are soft, some are direct, some are winding. As a servant of words, I aspire for all my writing to originate from a gentle heart, to meet each person who reads it.
I hope that the words I write, whether it's a note, a text message, a card, a published work, or a book, can, in places I can't see, gently catch at least one reader who is falling towards a low point, or embrace a drooping shoulder.
Some words may not be able to wake up a group of people with a single strike, but they can provide a safe space for someone to stay, straighten their disheveled clothes, shake off the yellow dust from their shoes, and allow their chaotic thoughts to settle down.
Some words may not open up new perspectives, but they can accompany a person in organizing their accumulated knowledge, discarding incorrect or outdated information, keeping the valuable parts, and bringing about a clearer outlook.
Some words simply express some heartfelt sentiments.
I see you.
I thought of you. I miss you.
I am willing to have a connection with you.
Let me keep you company.
When discussing writing, many people nervously ask: Can I do it? To be honest, I can't answer this question. But what I can say for certain is that if you have a heart that wants to accompany others through words, and you're willing to write for this purpose, you definitely can.
If you've lived through an era without the internet, you might remember those years of making pen pals, writing long letters, or small cards and notes. Written words are a voice that can speak to the heart more easily than audible language. People who enjoy reading have not only been accompanied by words from books and newspapers, but during their growing years, they've also been accompanied by words from other 'non-authors'.
In the internet age, we are unconsciously writing even more, using a large amount of text to connect with people, communicate, or express thoughts and emotions. However, few people realize that this could also be a form of serving through words.
Using words to accompany people is indeed a valuable service, and it's not because one can't make a name for themselves in writing that they settle for this.
When people on the internet use words as a practice of freedom, emphasizing self-expression, self-presentation, and self-discourse, I really hope there's a group of people who can gently say: Let me accompany you with words.
A person of words doesn't necessarily have to be flamboyant and omniscient, playing the leading role. They can also play a supporting role.
You may not be able to consistently write for a public account or blog (the kind with at least three-digit readership). Your articles may not always be successfully published, win competitions, or be compiled into a book. But if you have a heart for companionship, your words can travel far. At the ends of the earth, there will always be some lonely souls who will cherish that someone is willing to extend the arms of words to embrace them.
The Polish writer Olga Tokarczuk, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2018, made two particularly striking statements during her Nobel lecture:
"Tenderness is deep emotional concern about another being, its fragility, its unique nature, and its lack of immunity to suffering and the effects of time."
"Literature is built on tenderness toward any being other than ourselves."
Through words, writers express deep concern for life.
Looking back at words brings self-reflection and growth
Of course, reading is also a way to be accompanied by words. However, with so many articles available to read as soon as you open the internet, why are there still many people who go online feeling lonely, and log off feeling just as lonely?
In the world of words, sometimes we need quiet reading, and sometimes we crave interaction. The internet has opened up possibilities for interactive companionship through words. For those of this generation who are inclined to serve through words, this gift should not be something that just sits there, with its wrapping paper still intact.
Companionship through words allows me to slow down through language, and treat another person or a group of people with more patience and gentleness. Especially in group text companionship, every time I look back, I feel embarrassed by my abruptness and eagerness to be first, and I repent for listening to others at a scanning speed. It is through these processes of text companionship that I gain a more direct understanding of the substance of my identity as a "servant of words." Through text companionship, I have a more realistic assessment of my own verbal expression and my understanding of others.
Words can be looked back upon, and looking back brings self-reflection; with self-reflection, there is the possibility of growth.
I thought I was being tactful, but tact is not the same as gentleness; without words, I might have had no insight into this. I thought I had understood, but understanding is not the same as thorough comprehension; without words, I might have found it difficult to discern this difference.
Engaging in written dialogue with others often brings more challenges than writing alone under a solitary lamp. This is because in the latter scenario, I can temporarily assume that the reader understands, agrees, is focused, and might even be moved. But in the former, the responses received are direct and real to the point of being cruel. If there are any bubbles of pride in my heart, they will quickly be burst.
Of course, companionship through words also provides an opportunity to repeat oneself without being considered nagging. The same words spoken aloud are quickly forgotten, but when written down, those being accompanied can read them again and again, and may even reverse their initial feelings and emotions from the first reading.
Writing for those you accompany
Perhaps I should discuss more concretely: What is a word companion? What should they do?
First, a word companion should recognize that written words and spoken words are different mediums, and be more willing to express themselves and interact through writing. They shouldn't feel that 'speaking is clearer' or 'speaking is faster', with writing being merely a last resort.
Recognizing the limitations of written words is a good thing, just as understanding the limitations of speech can help one become a better verbal companion. If one wants to become a word companion, they must first be willing to write and enjoy writing. Otherwise, written communication might become a tedious task that tests one's patience.
Next, word companions write for those they accompany, not for self-expression, portraying worldly affairs, or literary creation. Therefore, it's important that the writing is concise and clear, making it easy for the other person to understand. Online written conversations are not like letter writing; the clarity of the text can be gradually refined and revealed during the interaction process, as the other person can immediately ask if they don't understand. However, practice is still important, especially in group text companionship, where back-and-forth clarifications can increase the number of replies, creating a burden for everyone.
I recently attended a lecture where a seminary dean discussed Henri Nouwen. Initially, Nouwen wasn't very famous, but suddenly, for unknown reasons, he was invited to teach at prestigious Ivy League schools like Yale and Harvard, which even wanted to offer him a tenured position. This caused quite a stir in academic circles. These universities highly value professors' academic research, considering their published papers and unique insights as crucial proof of their worth. The dean mentioned that sometimes, to make their content appear profound, academic papers are written in a seemingly complex style.
However, those who have read Nouwen's books know that each one is quite thin, with simple sentences, showing no apparent complexity. As a result, there was criticism from academia, suggesting that while these books might sell well to the general public, they lacked academic weight and didn't qualify for significant roles at institutions like Yale or Harvard. Yet, paradoxically, every class he taught was packed, and his books sold in large numbers. Of course, a large readership might also be interpreted as a sign that the content wasn't sufficiently profound.
In fact, Henri Nouwen held a doctoral degree and was a widely-read author with not only spiritual depth but also significant intellectual depth. His writing style was a deliberate choice.
In fact, there are many spiritual books available, but few people write directly about spirituality. Henri Nouwen was one of them. He believed that spirituality consists of two things: how God touches people and how people respond to that touch. This is something that happens in the heart and must be written in the language of the heart, which must be simple and direct, without beating around the bush. The words themselves are not the main focus; rather, it's these inner experiences between God and humans that are central. Nouwen once said that when writing, he paid great attention to using as few words as possible, avoiding unnecessary elaboration. He believed that the content was already difficult enough to understand, so complex language should not become an additional barrier.
It is said that Henri Nouwen placed the highest importance on interaction, whether he was teaching a class or giving a lecture. He was a rare author who was willing to engage in extensive and passionate interactions with his students and readers.
Keeping the reader in mind at his desk, he was willing to trim his words to make them easily understood by readers, using simple language to convey weighty information. This serves as a valuable model for those aspiring to become word companions.
Furthermore, word companionship is about intention; it's first about the willingness to accompany, and then choosing words as the medium. An author might write with the motivation to influence readers, but as a companion, if the purpose is too strong, it either puts pressure on oneself or on others.
The existentialist novelist Albert Camus said: "Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend."
It's not just speech that can be incessant; sometimes writing can be too, especially in many online communities. Although it's called interaction, in reality, most people are charging ahead on their own paths. To become a word companion, one must be sensitive to the rhythm of interaction. Even when singing the same song together, different rhythms can turn it into a cacophony of shouts or white noise.
Use words to see, care, and wait
Who are word companions? Who gives them this role? Will there be such a recognized position? I don't know, but I'm certain that many people are already on this path. In this internet age that gives vast space to words, there's still room for more creativity in developing the area of word companionship.
All forms of companionship require the investment of time, and word companionship is especially so. In a group setting, words can occasionally be like a flickering candle in the dark, providing an opening, illuminating a gloomy mood. But it's only through genuine, lasting companionship, including word companionship, that a relationship of trust can be built.
I remember Albert Schweitzer's quotes: "Sometimes our light goes out but is blown again into flame by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light."
A lamp about to go out can be reignited through words. Words can be present with people, making them feel seen and cared for, and more importantly, helping them discover that their life is worth waiting for.
Word companions use words to support people, to pray for them, and to let them know: we are heading in the same direction, we can accompany each other, and look out for one another.
Ultimately, becoming a word companion is not the shattering of a writer's dream, nor is it a second-best choice. Rather, it is an honorable calling.
It is He who allows us, through words, to have a place in the lives of others.