A Smatter of Life and Death

Words.

We use them constantly, every day. If we're not speaking them or reading them, we most often think by way of them. Our language has formed our thoughts, and we have trouble thinking about what we can't put into words. Those thoughts are echoes of an idea, bouncing off distant walls, reaching us in faint waves, barely perceived. But the thoughts we do understand, perceive and communicate well, usually words.*

Two friends recently made me aware of the power of my words. And more specifically, my words on this blog. For better or worse, these words carry consequences.

Once aware, I noted that my words in every day life also carry this weight, in a profound way.

At work, if I say something positive, it seems to bring forth life. But on those off-days (and I have had plenty of those lately), when I'm in a foul mood for whatever reason, my still-born words bring death. Life brings forth life. Death brings forth death.

Theologians like to reflect on the power of words, especially of God's words, such as "Let there be light." And there was light. I've always been a little wary of this idea because it falls into "speaking things into existence," which I think in many cases is more superstition than spiritual reality. Even still, my experience tells me that my words have their own gravity. Words spoken highly will draw others up. Words planted in tombs will drag down low.

My new goal is to speak words of life rather than death. It's hard, because, well, it just is. But I guess my death-word part will just have to die. As the old proverb goes, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." Or, better yet:

Don't say anything unless it builds up whoever hears it with exactly what they need. (Eph 4:29, my paraphrase)

*Okay, I can't go without saying that artists break this rule through many media, and even a mother can express love with a hug. This whole preceding paragraph has been a digression anyway. I'll get to today's point.