Tuesday, September 09, 2008

• Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones but Words Will Never Hurt Me?

  by miss iris

  

  Why is it so easy for us to go on the defense? Why is it so easy to throw our words around? I give the world a glimpse of myself by writing on this blog (or any blog) and when someone disagrees the first thing I want to do is hurl an angry word, or an insult and tell them they are inconsiderate. I go on the defense.

  As we connect via this internet medium I realize that there are very little friends and very many people. A friend would understand why you say what you say, others might not. A friend might question why is it you phrase something a certain way and others might just blow up on you. A friend would want to take the time to get to know you and others would not want to. There are many others. There are few friends ... This is why a community is so hard to build, it starts with mutual interests but thrives on deeper connections. 

  Once again I am reminded of the angry words and the hurt that it can bring to both friends or others. I pray that we remember that the internet is just a medium where people write and so tone is many times lost.

  My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should
  be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become
  angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous
  life that God desires.

  If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not
  keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and
  his religion is worthless.

  We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault
  in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole
  body in check.

  Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it
  makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set
  on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world
  of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole
  person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself
  set on fire by hell.

  Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him
  show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility
  that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy
  and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about
  it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down
  from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For
  where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find
  disorder and every evil practice.
  But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure;
  then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy
  and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who
  sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. James: various chapters

  Do you ever get defensive when someone doesn't agree with something you say or write? How do you handle these situations?

  • 4:56 PM
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