Word Power

Do you always say what you mean? Are your words always understood? How many times have you said something you wished you could take back?

Famous American Poet, Emily Dickinson, put it this way:

A word is dead when it is said, some say.

I say it just begins to live that day.

King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, gave words a picturesque twist: A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver (Proverbs 25:11 NIV). 

That’s encouraging. I may not be a creative genius, but with my everyday words, I can create something beautiful.

I love the treatise on words by James. His is a short five-chapter book in the New Testament. But in chapter three, you’ll find a nice section about words. 

The Message Bible (MSG) states his premises quite clearly. We'll share a few:

1. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you'd have a perfect person, in perfect control of life.

2. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can be like a spark that sets off a forest fire.

3. You can tame a tiger, but you can't tame a tongue---it's never been done.

4. Curses and blessings come out of the same mouth. This can't go on. A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it?

1.    You are a person with great power. Don’t sell yourself short.

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue,” says Proverbs 18:21 (NIV). Words can heal or destroy. In your lifetime, I’m sure you’ve been on the receiving end of both. 

Knowing how words have affected you, stop right now and give yourself a pep talk:

My words make me a powerful person,

Therefore, I need to think before I speak.

No one controls my tongue but me.

Reminder to self:

Don't just blurt---be alert!

Early Warning Systems

Along with our monsoon season, I have received multiple flash flood warnings. They suddenly burst out of my cell phone with an irritating noise that continues until I punch OK.   

I remember an early warning system (EWS) in my elementary years, for tornadoes. At the time, I lived where cellars were considered safe for survival. I’m still thankful I never had to personally prove it.

I was curious about today’s early warning systems. My initial web inquiry turned up UN.org's (United Nations) climate-change warning systems. I’m sure communities worldwide appreciate the integrated systems that prepare them for hazardous events.

The next site was USGS.gov (U.S. Geological Survey). Again, natural hazards were referenced, but a special note was made of California wildfires creating hazardous flash floods in heavy rains.

Having lived in California and personally witnessed powerful mudslides from burned-out areas, I consider early warning systems a wise move.

Civil Defense Sirens were popular during WW II. A piercing sound from a high tower would warn of a possible air raid. After the danger had passed, the siren would signal an all-clear. If you were outdoors, it definitely invaded your space.

General warning systems gradually became more specific. A good example is today’s noisy not-to-be-missed flash flood warnings on my cell phone.

Would you believe there are important spiritual early warning systems, too? I heard one today.

If I say, “Three sixteen (3:16),” would you think I was telling the time, or would you think of it as the first sound of an early warning system?

Your second thought would be correct. Even without a Bible, people can get this signal. The go-to app on my cell phone is the YouVersion.

Locate the book of John, chapter 3, verse 16. You'll find an early warning signal. God is sending an explanation of why Jesus came into this world. Read verses 16-19 for the full siren sound.  

The signal is clear whether you read it in the New International Version (NIV), The New King James Version (NKJV), or The Message Bible (MSG).  

Early warning systems are important, especially this one.

  

That Bitter Root

“Could you get rid of those wild roots again?” I pointed to a small six-inch area between my patio steps and a wall. My yard man had dealt with these before.

The problem is they shoot up in a hard-to-reach area. When I finally notice them, I know they must be taken out. Ignoring them will just produce something that seems out of place, unplanned.

Roots are important for plant growth. But wild roots are not so good. We don’t choose them; they just pop up in places we least expect them.

I always enjoy picturesque language. One of my favorite examples is in Hebrews 12:14-17 (NKJV) where Paul is encouraging people to be in the right relationship with each other, and with God. He says a root of bitterness springing up can cause trouble and corrupt relationships.

This seems to be a characteristic of “weeds”.

I learned this the hard way. In my blacktopped driveway I noticed a little green sprout in a small crack. I ignored it day after day. Finally, it was so big I had to notice it!

With both hands, I pulled hard but it wouldn’t budge. When I asked my yard man to do it, he actually had to dig around the roots to remove it.

Bitterness can spring up through disappointments in life. Naomi, in the short Book of Ruth, is a good example.

Due to a famine, her husband moved her and their two sons to a foreign country. There her husband died, and her boys married women from a different culture. Years later her sons also died and Naomi decided to return to her homeland.

Her son’s wives said they’d go with her, but she encouraged them to stay with their people. Orpah remained, but Ruth clung to Naomi and insisted she would not leave her.

Naomi returned to her homeland a changed woman. She said, “Don’t call me Naomi, call me Mara because God has made my life very bitter” (Ruth 1:20). She didn’t realize God had many good things ahead for her.  

Life without problems is impossible. Scripture says each heart knows its own bitterness, and bitterness defiles relationships (Proverbs 14:10).

Things that are defiled lose their value, or their beauty---they’re no longer desirable.

Are you aware of even a tiny root of bitterness in your heart? Don’t let it become a strong-rooted weed.

Consider praying David’s prayer: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me (Psalm 51:10). God is happy to pull that bitter root and give you a fresh start.

  

The Search

I had just completed a lovely visit with long-time friends. Now it was time to fly home.

We arrived early at their small airport. As expected, I was first in line. What I didn't expect was to be the last one out.  

I was “wanded,” no surprise there. The big surprise was being pulled aside and wanded again.

Next, I was asked to step to the far side of the room where they pulled a curtain while a lady patted me down. 

Then I watched while someone unpacked every item in my suitcase and another emptied my purse into a tray.

Thankfully most people ignored me as they came through the line. One lady, however, looked at me and said, “That happened to me once, too.”

Tamping down anger, I said, “If I knew what I did wrong, I’d never do it again.”

“I noticed you rolled everything up instead of laying it in your suitcase. My kids told me that’s considered suspicious because things can be more easily hidden.” She moved on.

I have yet to fly again, but when I do, I’ll try her suggestion.

King David wrote a famous psalm regarding a different search:  Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV).

His goal was more important than passing through airport security. He wanted to pass God’s inspection. When made aware of things he needed to change, David humbled himself with another prayer.  

It had six requests: (1) Create in me a clean heart, (2) renew a loyal spirit within me, (3) do not banish me from your presence, (4) don’t take your Holy Spirit from me, (5) restore to me the joy of your salvation, (6) and make me willing to obey you (Psalm 51:10-12 (NLT).

I hated every moment of the airport inspection. In a small space, it was public and humiliating. But, like King David, I am open to a search of my heart by almighty God.

God’s search is a private matter, and I’m grateful. It’s a source of peace, not humiliation. 

Moving On

“Do you think we were good parents?” I was surprised when mom asked this question since I had been gone from home for many years.

I remembered financial sacrifices to take family vacations and put food on the table. I also remembered helping with school projects and moral and spiritual training.

On the other hand, I thought of not being allowed to dance in gym class or go to a birthday party because they were going to a movie. Reading a book for teens about sex was curtailed, though it was by a well-known Christian author.

Her question helped me realize I had felt like a victim under some of their restraints; however, instead of anger and rehearsed complaints against the way I was raised, I had moved on.

As an adult, I was free to make my own choices, so I did.

The first movie I attended was Sound of Music, and twenty-two years after that childhood birthday party Bambi was back in theaters. I went just to see what I had missed.

Christian books about sex and marriage were read later, but I never learned to dance because I discovered I had two left feet.

My childhood issues were not as life-threatening as what some people must overcome. They did, however, affect my life view and who I was.

Let’s face it, our upbringing leaves residual effects. But a healthy move from childhood to adulthood creates change.

The Apostle Paul said, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me” (I Corinthians 13:11 NIV).

Maturity means growing in one's ability to accept responsibility for personal choices.

Have you ever moved without getting rid of something? As we mature, we can choose to leave the emotional baggage of childhood behind.

Moving on is an important part of life. The nice thing is that this move has no age limit.  

Unity and Diversity

Oh, how I love those two words. Why? Because both are strong in their own right, and when they decide to work together there’s even more power!

Unity is defined by a oneness in spirit or purpose, people in agreement. Diversity, on the other hand, shows up as people who are varied, or dissimilar.

We are born in diversity.  Did you have a say as to the family, culture, or country of your birth? No? Me, neither. 

Then we were further diversified through family training, education, and cultural expectations of our country and community.

On the other hand, unity is a matter of choice. Think of it as harmony.

Any musician can tell you harmony is created by several notes sounding at the same time. The reason it pleases the ear is that they are blending together purposefully. There is no dominant single note.

People who choose to live in unity create a pleasant atmosphere in general.

At one time I had the privilege of attending what I called “a world-class church.” There were several thousand in the congregation, and we were diversified beyond just nationalities.

We had a wide variety of age groups as well as economic and educational levels. Professionals worshiped weekly beside homeless citizens.

Unity in Diversity is more than a great slogan. It’s a choice that can improve lives. Years ago, I wrote a poem called “Words of Life.” I still think it’s meaningful, but I’m giving it a new title:

 UNITY and DIVERSITY
Darlis Sailors (2021)
 
Words have length and words have power
Say “I” and it marks my place
The world is big, and I am in it
 
Say “you” and life gets larger
I admit that there are others
I have a place, but so do you
 
You and I can join as one
Show strength as “we,” a force for change
We, as a team, produce good or evil
 
Alone I am one, my choice
With you, I must learn to give
Our spaces touch and a new vision emerges
 
How will we live---part you---part me
Our plan is formed with give and take
Small words of life with power
Unity and diversity
 

4 Important Areas of Self-Awareness

Wouldn’t it be great if life could be perfect, or better yet . . . if we could? Somehow perfection has never shown up in the human race.

Oh, some people are nicer than others. In fact, you may observe that they have a healthy sense of self-awareness. This leads them to interact with people positively, creating an upbeat connection.

On the other hand, four important areas drag us down: Hunger, Anger, Loneliness, and Tiredness.

1.       Hunger can cause us to do foolish things. Esau was famished after a day of hunting; he carelessly gave up his birthright for a bowl of stew (Genesis 25:27-34).

2.       Anger causes carelessness. Some people toss about thoughtless words, while others act out in physically inappropriate ways. If you want to be wise, be friendly but do not develop a close relationship with a hot-tempered person (Proverbs 22:24).

3.       Feeling lonely can definitely affect personal interaction. Lonely people sometimes smother others by clinging too closely to anyone who notices them. Others deal with loneliness by withdrawing from life. One cure is to remain open to others: To have a friend, be a friend (Proverbs 18:24, KJV). Even the smallest action can bring a positive result.

4.       Are you aware of how you act or react when tired? Mental tiredness causes us to stop weighing options. It’s so much easier to give in to “whatever will be, will be.” But breaks of various kinds can cure physical tiredness. Even “power naps” are helpful. Get alone somewhere, relax and close your eyes. Be in the moment—break your routine by listening to things around you

What could be more personal than self-awareness? Each of us is responsible for our own actions and attitudes.

When you realize you are hungry, angry, lonely, or tired don’t just keep pushing! Stop---be considerate of yourself---then move on.