What world are we creating with our words?
February 5, 2020 at 2:40 p.m.
One thing I never do is visit the supermarket on Super Bowl Sunday. That was, until this year when I completely forgot that Feb. 2 was a secular holiday day for many, and many were in the parking lot when I got there.
Once inside, it was all about game day food. Chips, dips, appetizers, gallons of soda were flying off the shelves. What intrigued me most was the gentleman who had 10 large trays of wings filling up his basket and as many bottles of sauces of all kinds, most of them hot.
I laughed out loud, remembering a small package of taco sauce I once saw printed with the words, “Sauce responsibly.”
I am no stranger to irresponsible saucing, and it can be painful!
Since that first little package of taco sauce, I find myself adapting the phrase as needed, like “walk responsibly,” when a family of five wanders through the parking lot, all on their phones, even the youngest children, and walk in front of my car.
Or, “Facebook responsibly,” muttered while reading through some poorly thought out posts.
Related to that is an idea that holds the most meaning for me: “Use words responsibly.” Written or spoken.
Words have a unique power to heal and to comfort, to inspire and to teach. They also serve to damage, to plant seeds of evil and incite to hatred.
Four hundred years ago, William Shakespeare wrote: “Words without thoughts never to heaven go.”
Considered by many to be the greatest writer, and most certainly the greatest dramatist, in the English language, Shakespeare understood the power of words as well as he understood the intricate workings of the human spirit.
However, compared to Scripture, Shakespeare’s prediction for words without thoughts is very generous. In the Gospel of Matthew we are warned, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak.”
Scripture is clear that words, through us, have the ability to create or destroy. As such, our ability to create with words and to influence others through our creation comes with a serious responsibility for meaning and truth, presented in a way that reflects our dignity as children of God.
One of the problems with today’s social media is the temptation for an immediate response, a problem warned of in Proverbs some 3,000 years ago: “Do you see someone hasty in speech? There is more hope for a fool!”
Throwing caution and good sense to the wind, and often feeling empowered by the digital distance afforded by the medium, we spout words, emotions and ideas better suited for the recycle bin than the eyes, hearts and minds of family, friends or strangers around the globe.
The Psalmist reminds us often that God created the world with words. God spoke and all that exists came into being.
As God’s children we have been gifted with a similar ability to create, but as human beings we need to prayerfully ask ourselves the question: What kind of worlds are we creating with our words?
Are we creating worlds in which relationships are strengthened, where bridges of understanding are being built, where healing has a chance, where people come to recognize their own ability for holiness?
If our honest answer is no, then we have another choice which has as much power as any word – silence.
Mary Clifford Morrell is the author of "Things My Father Taught Me About Love," and "Let Go and Live: Reclaiming your life by releasing your emotional clutter," both available as ebooks on Amazon.com.
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One thing I never do is visit the supermarket on Super Bowl Sunday. That was, until this year when I completely forgot that Feb. 2 was a secular holiday day for many, and many were in the parking lot when I got there.
Once inside, it was all about game day food. Chips, dips, appetizers, gallons of soda were flying off the shelves. What intrigued me most was the gentleman who had 10 large trays of wings filling up his basket and as many bottles of sauces of all kinds, most of them hot.
I laughed out loud, remembering a small package of taco sauce I once saw printed with the words, “Sauce responsibly.”
I am no stranger to irresponsible saucing, and it can be painful!
Since that first little package of taco sauce, I find myself adapting the phrase as needed, like “walk responsibly,” when a family of five wanders through the parking lot, all on their phones, even the youngest children, and walk in front of my car.
Or, “Facebook responsibly,” muttered while reading through some poorly thought out posts.
Related to that is an idea that holds the most meaning for me: “Use words responsibly.” Written or spoken.
Words have a unique power to heal and to comfort, to inspire and to teach. They also serve to damage, to plant seeds of evil and incite to hatred.
Four hundred years ago, William Shakespeare wrote: “Words without thoughts never to heaven go.”
Considered by many to be the greatest writer, and most certainly the greatest dramatist, in the English language, Shakespeare understood the power of words as well as he understood the intricate workings of the human spirit.
However, compared to Scripture, Shakespeare’s prediction for words without thoughts is very generous. In the Gospel of Matthew we are warned, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak.”
Scripture is clear that words, through us, have the ability to create or destroy. As such, our ability to create with words and to influence others through our creation comes with a serious responsibility for meaning and truth, presented in a way that reflects our dignity as children of God.
One of the problems with today’s social media is the temptation for an immediate response, a problem warned of in Proverbs some 3,000 years ago: “Do you see someone hasty in speech? There is more hope for a fool!”
Throwing caution and good sense to the wind, and often feeling empowered by the digital distance afforded by the medium, we spout words, emotions and ideas better suited for the recycle bin than the eyes, hearts and minds of family, friends or strangers around the globe.
The Psalmist reminds us often that God created the world with words. God spoke and all that exists came into being.
As God’s children we have been gifted with a similar ability to create, but as human beings we need to prayerfully ask ourselves the question: What kind of worlds are we creating with our words?
Are we creating worlds in which relationships are strengthened, where bridges of understanding are being built, where healing has a chance, where people come to recognize their own ability for holiness?
If our honest answer is no, then we have another choice which has as much power as any word – silence.
Mary Clifford Morrell is the author of "Things My Father Taught Me About Love," and "Let Go and Live: Reclaiming your life by releasing your emotional clutter," both available as ebooks on Amazon.com.