And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD will take away your master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.” 2 Kings 2:3
As our kids approached their early teens, my wife and I felt compelled to talk to them about the birds and the bees. So, I gave the boy talk and my wife gave the girl talk,. When they realized what was happening, our kids were both uncomfortable and neither wanted to hear it. Over the years, there have been numerous other topics like that that we’ve had to discuss. I’ll usually start with, I know you’re not going to want to talk about this, but . . . My kids will roll their eyes and sigh, but they know that it can’t be stopped. There are just some things in life that must be said, even though it’s uncomfortable. As parents, it is sometimes our duty to address certain issues and to avoid the discussion just because it’s uncomfortable, is to abdicate our parental responsibilities. Sometimes, you just gotta have the talk.
Then, there are those times in life when something just doesn’t need to be said. Sometimes, I’m simply nosy and insert myself into situations where my presence is inappropriate. If I randomly ask a young couple when they’re going to start having kids, only later to find out that they’ve been trying unsuccessfully, I eventually realize that I should have just kept my mouth shut. They don’t want to talk about it because it’s a profoundly painful topic and bringing it up is simply rude and unnecessary.
People wish to avoid certain topics because they’re painful and it isn’t always easy to know if we’re supposed to force the issue or let it go. This is illustrated in today’s passage, in which Elijah was about to be taken up into heaven (without dying), leaving his protégé, Elisha, behind. Three times in the story, others informed Elisha that Elijah was about to leave him. Elisha didn’t want to hear it. It was a terribly sad occasion and Elisha simply didn’t want to be reminded of his impending loss. Still, those around Elisha felt compelled to let him know.
It’s not uncommon to be in a position where I know someone near me wishes to avoid a topic. Sometimes it’s appropriate for me to push the issue. I know you don’t want to talk about it, but I see you’re struggling with chemicals. At other times, it’s best if I just keep my mouth shut. This is none of my business. I don’t have any right to address this. How do I know which is which? Usually, I must examine my relationship with that person and analyze my motives. Am I doing this because I have invested in this person and I’m interested in their wellbeing? If I’m in a recovery group with them, then yes, I likely have the authority and appropriate position from which to address the issue. If, however, I’m just a nosy coworker who is trying to satisfy my own curiosity, then I must simply walk away. There will always be topics that those around me wish to avoid. Sometimes it’s my duty to address those things and sometimes, it’s my duty to just shut my mouth. Wisdom is knowing the difference between the two.