As a Christian I don’t have a very good track record. Apparently the ten commandments are a, ‘NOT to do’ list, and not so much a ‘to do’ list. I look back on the last 40 years, and realize, that evil in all of its twisted forms, is something that is done by me, to someone else. I am supposed to value others, and not hurt them. When I find myself in a verbal volley with an adversary, my instinct is to inflict as much verbal damage as possible. Our exchange mimics the ancient sea battles with wooden ships, and belching cannons. What is the cost behind words? You have to judge, (aim) then hate, (load gunpowder) and not care about the hurt you are about to inflict on someone else, (fire!). The handle side of the weapon often feels less pain than the bloodied recipient. Words are weapons. Who’s side do I fight for? As a burning ship sinks, why do I find joy? Does taking something away from someone with criticism and lies help make me better? No, it simply shows I am worse.
Every human on this Earth has a backstory, a history, a perspective, and a soul. If I truly care about them, and who made them, then why don’t my words reflect that? Do my words take something away, with my witty observation of physical defects, and social choices? Or do my words offer hope, with my perspective of their value, to me, to the world, to God? To immerse myself with the struggles of another person, will silence my gaping cannon of my mouth, leaving me only whispers while talking to them. Then maybe I can tell the true tale of their value to God, and will only leave encouragement and support to saturate the air.
This reflection, is to remind myself, that there is nothing wrong with being a chatty extrovert. But, I do need to do a better job seeing people, and loving them. To be more ears, and less mouth. My words are loaded in my guts where evil in all its forms writhes in a ready cauldron. In the storeroom down there, there can be light, and hope. Scripted musing of the wonderful things of people, and the world. How will I stock the latter? The choice becomes mine, to pillage conversations, and wound listeners. A Christian should know the tale of God, and the undeniable value of people. Before I am silenced, and planted in the cold ground, perhaps I will leave behind words, hanging soft in the invisible air, that let you know, there are many great things I see in you.
Copyright © 2017 Zachary W Gilbert
Zachary W Gilbert, Author 