Father Hung T. Nguyen is a Vietnamese born pastor at a small Catholic church in my home town of Gig Harbor, Washington (population 6400 people) He is an excellent communicator. I’ve noted the things that make him a good speaker. He clearly takes time preparing. He has excellent timing, does not speak too quickly, uses voice inflection and gestures with congruence with an open stance. He speaks simply in words everyone understands with examples and stories. The content of his sermons are thought out and organized. He employs humor as well as story telling in his delivery. He speaks without notes and does not use a podium, but rather stands in the open while giving his homily. In short, he uses the tools of communication well.

Last Sunday he used a small hand held mirror while giving his sermon. While talking about the image people have of themselves, he picked up the mirror. Showing it to a parishioner he asked "what do you see in the mirror?" When the answer was "an old man," he showed to others asking the same question. He used their answers as a spring board to discussing the difference between how we see ourselves and who we really our in the eyes of others and God. It was an unusual tactic for church, but he completely captured and held the attention of the parishioners who laughed at his humor and listened to what he had to say.

After church, I thought about how much there is to learn from many sources about being a better trial lawyer. I thought about using the same approach and a hand mirror in arguing to the jury the impact of scaring from trauma or the psychological effect of serious injury. I learned about the religious lesson he wanted to teach, but I also learned, as well, about effective communication. At seventy one years of age, I am still learning.