Acts 17:16-21. While Paul is waiting in Athens for Silas and Timothy to join him, he notices that the city is filled with idols, so he begins preaching on his own there. He argues in the synagogues with the Jews and other devout people and he argues every day in the marketplace with whoever happens to be there. And people start talking. The city is home to many philosophers, some of whom think Paul is just babbling, while others think he is teaching of foreign divinities. They bring him to the Areopagus and ask "May we know what this new teaching is which you present? For you bring some strange things to our ears; we wish to know therefore what these things mean." For the people who lived in Athens loved nothing more than "telling or hearing something new."

So the people of Athens were "next big thing" people - always on the lookout for something new. This, of course, is a sign of spiritual dissatisfaction - our hearts are restless until they rest in God, as St. Augustine noted. It makes sense, then, that Paul finds the city full of idols and philosophers - they are both signs of a spiritual search. Our hearts are always looking for something to worship - something that gives meaning to our lives, and we often seize on the next big thing, or even just the next thing, and make an idol out of it. Secular  philosophy, as helpful as it can be, it's just another way of trying to find meaning apart from God. Unless a philosopher knows of or is willing to accept the revelation of God, he will only get so far figuring things out. So Athens, then, is primed for evangelization - they are a people who loves hearing of new things and are looking for answers! And Paul's got the only answer they need! Seeing this, Paul can't wait for Silas and Timothy - he starts preaching everywhere right away on his own. He is bursting with it, he can't hold it in.

I worry sometimes that I talk too much (because I do!), so I try to tamp it down, but I'm often not successful. This is a fault of mine, but one the Holy Spirit corrects and uses if I let Him. Paul had a similar fault - he could be headstrong and proud, but he gave himself fully to God and we see here how the Holy Spirit inspires him to preach without thought of his pride (he's accused of babbling!).

Discernment is key for me in these situations. I have to ask myself - am I wanting to speak because I want to prove I'm right, or because I have been led to a fully ripe opportunity for evangelization? Will my pride be offended if I speak and am accused of babbling, or do I feel I have to speak anyway? That's a pretty good indicator of whether or not the Holy Spirit is guiding me, as He was Paul in Athens.