The Power of Words

I find myself spending much time reflecting upon the nature and power of words. My own tiny sliver of existence combined with my living as part of the collective provides ample inspiration to do so. As a writer, I understand the influence and the potential for words to convey and to create; to create narratives, to create meaning and understanding, to create healing and bonds, to create imaginative landscapes that inspire purpose, creativity, beauty and joy. Yet, words also have the ability to create less desirable conditions and experiences; environments of distortion, disorder, distrust, division, pain, injustice, hopelessness, hate and hurt. Some days, it feels as though, these days, it is too easy to witness and experience the reality of this. Words are profoundly powerful, they create our worlds.

It is no wonder then that scripture takes great care to inform us about the power of our words, both written and spoken. Over and over again throughout the Bible it is conveyed to us that our words have the profound and significant ability to create and impact the external circumstances and experiences of our lives and the lives of others...for better or for worse. We are told that both "death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21). In any given moment then, our words hold the power to either give life to a person or situation, or draw life away.

Rash words are like a sword that thrusts (Proverbs 12:18) and bitter words are like arrows (Psalm 64:3) that pierce into the heart and mind of the recipient, breaking their spirit (Proverbs 15:4). The harm is understood to extend even to one's physical well-being, with hateful words crushing the bones (Sirach 28:17). Have you ever been on the receiving end of such words? Then you know the impact of this "breaking and crushing" blow that simultaneously strikes your innermost self and sucks the wind out of you, making you feel both mentally and physically obliterated. Contrary to this, a gentle tongue is a tree of life (Proverbs 15:4) and pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body (Proverbs 16:24). Have you ever been on the receiving end of these words? Then you know the encouraging and revitalizing power of such words. The kind of speech that uplifts the heart and brings a buoyant spring to the step.

The power that words have has long been understood. The ancient Hebrew concept, Lashon Hara (evil tongue) denotes derogatory and disparaging speech, the speech that damages, breaks, harms, curses another person. Such words were and are considered a great offense and are strictly forbidden. In contrast, Barak, the ancient Hebrew word "to bless", means to speak excellence about. It is offered and encouraged as the alternative way of speech; speech that humbly uplifts, restores, encourages, and blesses another. As image-bearers of our loving, life-giving and life-preserving Creator, let it not be that from our mouth comes forth both blessing and cursing (James 3:10). May words of excellence, words of blessing, prevail.

When we pause to reflect on the power of our words and the impact they have, may it create in us the strong acknowledgement and desire to become evermore mindful and careful of the words we choose to speak into the world, the words we choose to say to ourselves and to others, into our lives and the lives of others. May we be intentionally considerate of God's help to "keep watch over the doors of our lips" (Psalm 141:3), so that when we speak, we speak in a manner that cherishes, preserves, glorifies and ignites Life...not destroys it.

Amen