Thoughts for the Day

The evil are ensnared by the transgression of their lips,
but the righteous escape from trouble.
From the fruit of the mouth one is filled with good things...
Fools think their own way is right,
but the wise listen to advice.
Fools show their anger at once,
but the prudent ignore an insult.
Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,
but a false witness speaks deceitfully.
Rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Truthful lips endure for ever,
but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.
Deceit is in the mind of those who plan evil,
but those who counsel peace have joy.
No harm happens to the righteous,
but the wicked are filled with trouble.
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
but those who act faithfully are his delight.
One who is clever conceals knowledge,
but the mind of a fool broadcasts folly.
Anxiety weighs down the human heart,
but a good word cheers it up.
The righteous gives good advice to friends,
but the way of the wicked leads astray.
In the path of righteousness there is life,
in walking its path there is no death.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

King Solomon is concerned with 'words' in Chapter 12 - I have put the relevant lines in bold type above. Today social media can cause many problems as we have seen over the past few weeks in the UK. The rioters in Spellow in Liverpool for instance, set light to a library (that was part of a "one-stop-help-hub") in one of the most deprived areas because of a false allegation. The written word and speech hurt both the sender and/or speaker, and the one who receives them. They also lie at the root of many things that are evil in our world. Many people who lie will get found out eventually, as we have seen recently when one person who posted a malicious social media message was arrested.

One of the greatest lies told in Scotland was part of a hoax. The famous "surgeons photograph" of the Loch Ness monster taken innocently by physician Robert Kenneth Wilson, in 1934, turned out to be fake. The fake monster was likely instigated by Marmaduke Wetherell and others. Wetherell, a big-game hunter, had claimed previously that he had found some footprint evidence of the "monster". These turned out to be imprints made by something like an 'ashtray stand'.

Of course words can also have a positive outcome as we see in today's section from Proverbs. "The fruit of the mouth" we are told "is full of good things". We have the ability to praise others, to thank them, to give advice, to show support, to sympathise, to encourage, and to teach. All of these will affect how people feel about themselves. The American poet, author, and civil rights activist Maya Angelou once said something important about how we interact with others:

• "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Maya Angelou

When we use words in the right way we spread God's love to our world.

Heavenly Father,
may we use words carefully
and thoughtfully.
to bring wisdom and peace
to our friends, colleagues, and family.
May we learn to think
before we speak,
and only reflect Your love
to others.
Amen.