Bring In Another Person!!
At times, as I listen to another speaker, I am reminded how well he/she understands something and potentially will relate to an audience better than most any others. When that happens, I’m going to include the audio or video clip into the presentation! If there is no audio or video, I need to decide whether or not I can read the material without losing the audience.
Such audio or video clip can really communicate because he/she has actually gone through this-or-that experience. However, he/she has also thought through that experience. AND BEYOND THAT, he/she can communicate that experience! That is, he/she can put it into words which connect!
In contrast . . . .
I have a limited number of personal experiences in life which have the uniqueness and potential to relate to an audience.
I may have had some experiences which might relate to an audience, but I have never thought through those experiences sufficiently to get a handle on what elements connect.
I may have had and thought through this-or-that experience, but am not able to communicate it! I cannot grab the right words, phrases, and thoughts which grab that experience.
So when I hear someone describe a particular experience of life, which so clearly and forcefully has the potential of identifying with an audience, I want to use them. Either by quoting them, using an audio clip, or using a video clip of their experience has great value and impact in a speech or message.
At times, it is well worth beginning with, or using a video clip somewhere in the presentation because it is far removed from our experiences and/or well beyond our ability to communicate it. This is one such example relating to the experience of “clinical depression.” It is out of the realm of most of our experiences and/or our ability to communicate it as effectively as Ed Welch does.
Now, I have two purposes in highlighting this rhetorical example. One purpose is to illustrate the power, impact, and effectiveness of those who have . . . .
actually experienced an event of life
carefully thought about it (enough to write extensively about it)
and can communicate it, to put it into words that grab it
There is great value in “adding another voice” to your presentation! This would be a valuable use of the visual, far removed from today’s banal and humdrum use of PowerPoint presentations which are repetitively and commonly little more than notes on the screen.*
Using “another voice clip” like this in your introduction or to drive a point within our message is invaluable and effective! While it is not sufficient to make a mediocre speech into a great speech, it does add a lot of weight to any presentation. It will change-up your message for a period of time because it is able to capture the attention and focus of the listeners!
Second, after reading the following transcription, you will again be reminded about the importance of vocal variety. The art of public address is a distinct art form! That is why laying out a transcript of a speech fails to follow the grammatical rules and structure of a writing. “Public Speaking” is a “vocal art form” and clearly not the same as the art of writing!
The Transcription:
Depression sometimes has been called the – the hopelessness disease – not even being able to imagine – the things will ever get any better – it’s – it’s like this eternal sadness.
Normally our emotions can go up and down – for example – at this particular moment – I can imagine really difficult things – and I can imagine really good things
A person who’s depressed – they cannot imagine – such a thing – that’s good.
My interest in depression really goes back to my own – childhood and growing up here’s – for I would see my father going in and out of – periods of depression – he was hospitalized – probably – a handful of times that I’m aware of – as I was growing up.
We didn’t have a word for it at the time — as you can imagine — it was sort of hush-hush — daddy’s sick and he’ll be — he’ll be away for a while
My father was a person – who – without question – he loved Jesus – without question – but I would find the day after day – guilt was just utterly oppressive – he could never do enough – he was always – a failure in his own mind
And I can remember – even when I was younger – trying to – just to affirm him – but it just felt like my words – that just – they didn’t penetrate – he didn’t hear them – it was as if he was sealed off in some way
So I’ve seen the stubbornness of depression – in a close hand – with my – with my father’s life.
To to trust another person when you’re depressed – to give yourself – to – to speak of that kind of pain – to another person is – is without question – a huge risk – and – and one of the risks is – that you’re – that you’re gonna be proved right – nobody understands what I’m experiencing – and here I just tried to share it with this person and they didn’t understand – a word of what I said.
That absolutely is – is one of the risks – with people – who struggle with depression and it’s the risk frankly that – that everyone who has gone through deep suffering experiences because – everyone who has gone through deep suffering – they had very well-intentioned people – say things that ultimately were – were hurtful – kinds of things.
One of the ways that – that God comes close to the depressed person -and invites them – is he says – especially by way of the Psalms – I want you to speak to me – from your heart. Now – that seems like a very easy thing to do – doesn’t it – I mean – you just speak – but the problem is – depression – sometimes they’re hard – it’s hard to find words for it – because it’s so severe – and also to speak to another person – that demands a certain smidgen of hope – okay – you have to believe that there is a reason for it – there’s some sort of – purpose behind it – but that is one of the things that God does – that – that gently surprises a depressed person.
He says first – speak to me – He says – speak to me from your heart – and if you don’t have words – you know – search through the Psalms – and I’ll even give you the words to say.
That’s one way the Lord begins to – pierce through – this – this – this – it feels like this Armour of sadness that we can have around us.
The people I know who have struggled with depression – and have -have persevered with me – if you will – and with other people in the body of Christ and with the Lord – those are always – those are my heroes – those are people – they – they struggle – every day is hard but -but they – they get up – out of bed every day – simply out of – this – weak obedience to Christ – and I find that to be – so – incredibly – heroic.
When -when I’ve had the privilege of being able to walk with people – have been – been depressed – they might say – well tell you the truth I don’t – I don’t remember much that Ed said – I’m thinking – Oh no – I didn’t say anything useful – but – but they say something better – but I – I knew he was there – and – he was walking with me in the midst of it.
That doesn’t – that doesn’t help a counselor’s self-esteem – but it’s better – it’s better than that.
–Ed Welch
Now listen to it as it was actually spoken – Audio Link**
Other Worthwhile Clips:
Joni Eareckson Tada – (Experiences few people have had and a great communicator! – A good number up on youtube – 1hr :41m into it)
D. L. Moody & Other Famous Evangelist – (Various One Available)
Sing A Little Louder – (Various Versions Available – on Holacaust / Abortion)
Elizabeth Eliot (Memorial service has several great clips that can be used)
The Life Of Jim Elliot — Jim Elliot – (also presentation – Steve Saint)
*I have yet to read of a study which establishes that such PP visuals as used in today’s services have an impact on memory. PP typically adds little, and paper notes are not much different! — Sorry! If PP is used in your services, let me ask – What was last week’s sermon about?
**Original Video Link: Depression: A Stubborn Darkness, by Ed Welch
or
RhetoricAndHomiletics.Org 