On Fridays, I am honored to be able to introduce you all to some of my friends. Their wisdom and perspective inspire me regularly and I’m so excited that they’ve agreed to share it here. The brave woman who volunteered to go first is the amazing Triann Benson.
Ephesians 4:29 advises us, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
If I’m honest, that can sometimes be a challenge on a good day! Throw in the stress of a national stay-at-home order due to an international pandemic and all bets are off. At least that’s been my perception as of late. Watching the events of the last several months unfold on various social media outlets, I’ve observed a grandiose shift in atmosphere. Gone are the innocent days of “Look what I baked!” and “How cute is Johnny?” Oh those posts are still there, but perhaps fewer and farther between. And when they are there, they seem to be scrutinized in a way I haven’t seen in the past. “Why isn’t Johnny wearing a mask?” “What lengths did you go to to get yeast for that bread, or are you just a hoarder?” Yikes!
What once was a way to stay connected and be a part of others’ lives no matter the distance, has become a rather prickly place to be. As these stay-at-home orders and restrictions have gone from weeks to months, tensions are mounting, lines are being drawn, and the overall demeanor of many has gone dark. When face to face interaction is taken away, it seems a quicker leap from spark to full-fledged forest fire and everyone is getting burned. Friends, neighbors, and even families are more heated in their discussions. There’s an air of distrust, misunderstanding, and a whole lot of name calling going on.
Many threads start out with true questions, seemingly benign statements, or even just a ‘this is how I feel’ post that is valid for the person speaking. Each time I hop online to check in with friends I am increasingly saddened and discouraged by the condescending tones, the judgement, and the downright hate being spewed by people I would have never thought could behave that way. Ephesians 4:31 urges us to “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, and slander, along with every form of malice.” If you think brawling with words isn’t possible, think again. The carnage is devastating and it is tearing people apart. Temptation to jump in the fray and throw in a few well-worded punches of our own, whether in defense of others or of ourselves, can be alluring, especially when the topic is something you’re passionate about.
Stop.
Wait a minute.
What is the end goal? Verbal darts are a dangerous game. If you’re hoping to make a difference in those listening, are cleverly crafted retorts (or rants) the right avenue? Or are we driving one more nail into the coffin of society as we know it?
The other enticement is to simply walk away from it all and not even engage. But…what if? What if we are being called to more? More compassion. More understanding. More grace. More speaking of the truth in love.
We must be the light bearers.
I implore you to take a step back. Evaluate what you want to convey. Pray about your words. Decipher if they should be cast out into the sea of humanity right now. I’m not saying that we are being called to silence – most certainly not. The world needs words of encouragement. Words of hope. If you are being prompted to shine light, breathe life, console, encourage, laugh with others, PLEASE do so! If those who can offer light turn away from the shadows, only darkness remains.
What kind of imprint on others do you want to leave today? I’ll leave you with the words of Ephesians 4:32 “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ God forgave you.”
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