Stuttering And The Why?

We all ask the question, “Why?” like a six-year-old, expecting a cogent and clear answer. That answer never arrives no matter if the question is the origin of children or the meaning of life. It’s all in the “How’s” of life that the “Why’s” seem to figure themselves out, even if left unanswered. I dread my funeral. Not that I’ll be dead and not there but what will be said about me that would make me wince or at least wonder who he’s talking about. This is what I’d like to be said, however.

“How could a third grader be asked to stand in class and not be able to say his name? The repeating-repetition causes laughter from equal fellows at 10 years of age.

How does an early high school student hang around a radio studio bothering both announcers and janitor for countless days and then land an announcer job as a high school junior? How come he can’t say “Strategic Arms Limitations Talks” like any other announcer while reading the news in his small radio market? What happened to simply, “SALT?” (Radio folks in that community seemed to miss out on the Vietnam War happenings.)

How come his graduate homily professor draws him aside after class and says, “You should consider a different vocation?” because he was speaking to equal fellows in an artificial preaching environment?

How come he had seven wonderful radio years at that small radio station and two successful religious radio programs in a larger market playing rock ‘n roll on one and fielding telephone calls from the second?

How come his perceived liability becomes his greatest asset? How come he still is unable to stand in front of you without worrying about his repeating-repetition that seemed to return with greater force?

How come people will impatiently wait for his final word to be finally spilled out before responding?

The “Why” is easy and the “How” you already know. In Latin, “maiorem Dei gloriam et honorem,” “All for the greater honor and glory of God.” A friend had license plates made of the acronym, I’d like my tombstone to say it fully…but with a slight pause after “maiorem” and then stuttering “Dei” until I get to the end, which I eventually did.”