Words

 

What’s going on in your head? 

We are constantly bombarded with words from media that influence our thinking. Radio is on in the car – what do you hear?  Songs, sports talk, news, advertising?    TV is on in the home- what do you see and hear?  Songs, sports talk, news, advertising, cooking advice, silly comedy, crime solving drama?  What do you filter out and what gets to take up residence in your brain?

The high school Sunday School lesson this week was about watching your words and I had saved up some newspapers for them to use to identify words or phrases that gave a positive or negative connotation.  When asked how many of them read the newspaper not surprising that the only ones to respond with yes were the 4 over forty adults who were in the room.  So the groups set out on the task and came up with these identifications:

Positive – sweet, legendary, fun, family, Dear Santa, beloved, hot and happenin’, giant, new, honor, free, Panda hits 3 homeruns, new places, filled with love, peace of mind knowing that she is being well cared for, how can I help?

Negative – my literature homework is impossible again, fear, marijuana, school, death, destiny, killed, Rick Perry, threaten, grim, rape, toe injury, cancelled, Horn Frogs lost, creepy, firebombs

Possibly either – Obama 2012, boobs

This lead into interesting discussion of the scripture for the lesson, James 3, which uses imagery to describe how our words affect our lives.  In horseback riding, the bit is a small piece of the bridle but it weighs in heavily to guiding the direction of the animal.  Strong winds can push a boat about but the small rudder aids the pilot in guiding the vessel on the desired route.  A small spark can start a raging, damaging fire.  Relating to the cell phones that they all commonly use, the conclusion was that small talk texted to one another can take all sorts of possible directions with positive or negative results.  Included in the discussion was dealing with criticism, impact of compliments, holding each other accountable, and building positive relationships.  Whenever it’s my turn to teach, I feel that I actually come away as the learner.  Funny how things tend to work out like that.

So today I looked at the words ever present in my surroundings.  Do you have magnets and mementoes on your fridge?  These are the words found on mine:

I am still learning, Michelangelo; Don’t mess with Texas; Precious and few are friends like you; It’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years, Abraham Lincoln; Boo!  Happy Halloween, Keller

Words found on my wall art and plaques:

Life is beautiful; life is good; celebration of the arts; remember who you wanted to be; got wine; our family is a circle of strength and love; our dog has a licker license; friends are the flowers in the garden of life; love, joy, laughter, peace; in dreams and love there are no impossibilities; come sit on my porch

I really don’t completely understand these words, but I enjoy their mystical quality in the description of God:

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

So, may THE WORD keep me accountable in choosing the right words to use at the right time to spread peace and grace.

Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.