I believe God has been laying this concept on my heart for quite sometime now, the idea that our words are powerful. Our words, the things we say, the thoughts that form in our minds and pour out of our mouths have an incredible weight upon each other that we cannot see. And because of this fact, we have such a responsibility to use this power in a way that is pleasing in God's sight. As I prepare to spend 11 months in intense community, my deepest desire is that we can always love one another, even in the toughest of times by holding each other in the highest of regards. And that has so much to do with our words and what we decide to pour into each other. The Proverbs are full of warnings of the folly of hasty speech and an unrestrained tongue. James also speaks very clearly about the power of our words. I wrote somewhat of a poem about this idea. So, I decided to share it with you all.
words.
how many words do i need to fully describe my Lord?
oh! what silliness!
for there are no words.
all the letters, sounds, vowels in the whole world can not even begin to encompass the breadth, the depth, the height of all that is You.
our language is not adequate.
words.
our words are not reality.
our words are symbols&sounds that point to an unseen actuality.
within these letters&noises is a spirituality that cannot be seen, only understood in our souls.
they only point to what is real.
words.
heaven can be laced within the figures&consonants of our words.
hell can also reside in the hidden recesses of verbiage.
what then, is in your words?
do the sounds&ideas&symbols that flow from your brain, out of your mouth, into someone else carry with them truth, life?
or are they messengers of death?
do they bear witness to the Light?
or do they attend to the darkness?
do not be hasty with your speech.
hold your tongue and
listen.
listen to the whisper of God.
attend to His beckoning.
listen closely.
He speaks life, love, peace, rest.
listen to His voice, so that your words,
may become His words.
