Confabulation - What does this mean?

I think back to a few weeks ago and my youth lesson. We sat around the table. We played a game. It doesn't really have a name. It's a lot like telephone but with paper. We each get a stack of paper; enough to represent each person there. \We start off by writing a sentence. It can be as random as you want. For example, The squirrel danced with the chocolate chip cookie. The next person then would draw this sentence. It then goes around, people write or draw according to the previous piece of paper. Eventually, it will get back to you and then you have a completely crazy story.

We did this game. Then, I declared it was time for a lesson. We spoke about how so many times in our lives, we take things from the Bible out of context. We shared examples of how this is done. We examined a couple and did exegesis on it. We figured out that it is important to know everything possibly about a scripture to figure out what it means.

Looking back at this, I realize that this also applies to everyday life. The title of this is "Confabulation - What does this mean?" Confabulation means familiar talk; easy, unrestrained, unceremonious conversation. Or for some people: The unconscious filling of gaps in one's memory by fabrications that one accepts as facts. However, for this point, it's the conversation one. But yet, what does this mean?

I think back to some of the conversations I've had recently. I think of the context of each. Some have been nonsense, serious, ventful, confrontational, and above all, they have been loving. I examine these and many more. I realize that each one has some sort of meaning behind them. People a lot of times say a lot without every using words. I can see times where I have understood what was being said. There are times, as well, that I read to much into it. I realize how important it is to communicate. Not just the big things but the small things as well.

It is so easy for things to be taken out of context. It is so easy to put feelings behind things that don't necessarily match up. How do you manage to listen without losing translation of the message being expressed? I'm not sure. What I do realize, is that, there are people out there with hurt. I will continue to do what God has placed in my heart. And that my friends, is to listen not with my ears but with my heart. I invite you to do the same.