Yep, I am a talker. (But am I a walker, too??)
Successful walking takes serious skill. Without stumbling and face falling or face saving, eh? Successful talking takes serious skill. Without opening mouth and inserting foot or worse, eh?
Okay, so, it’s obvious–I like to talk! However, is it an obvious “right” ? Is free speech the same thing as “freedom” of speech? Do I have the absolute right to determine what the right thing is to say/speak in any moment/situation?
May be? free talking is exhibitionism of a lack of self-control? Or an abundance of arrogance? Or glaring ignorance? Or power hunger?…
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; Those who love it will eat its fruitage. (Proverbs 18:21)
hmmm, what am i eating??;) savory, sweet or sour?
Article commentary:
THE tongue of the giraffe measures up to 18 inches [45 cm] long and is agile and powerful enough to pluck leaves off tree branches. The blue whale’s tongue weighs as much as an elephant. Imagine the strength needed just to move it!
The human tongue pales in comparison in size, weight, and strength. Yet, it is far more powerful. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue,” says the Bible of this small member of the human body. (Proverbs 18:21) Indeed, how many times have we heard of the human tongue’s death-dealing power being wielded in fabricating lies and false testimonies that have brought ruination, even death, to innocent victims?
Likewise, longtime friendships have been dashed by hurtful remarks. Emotions have been crushed by harsh words. “How long will you men keep irritating my soul and keep crushing me with words?” cried the much-maligned Job. (Job 19:2) The disciple James gave a vivid picture of the destructive power of the unbridled tongue: “The tongue is a little member and yet makes great brags. Look! How little a fire it takes to set so great a woodland on fire! Well, the tongue is a fire.”—James 3:5, 6.
On the other hand, the power of the tongue can also be life-giving. Empathetic and consoling words have rescued some from depression and suicide. Sound advice, when heeded, has saved many drug abusers and street thugs from untimely death. Truly, the fruitage of a righteous one’s tongue is “a tree of life,” and “as apples of gold in silver carvings is a word spoken at the right time for it.”—Proverbs 15:4; 25:11. [The Power of the Tongue w 07]
May be, freeness of speech comes/is acquired from a living place of authenticity earned by work/effort/experience/knowledge/discipline/training. It’s evident, most likely, that what I talk/share is what i teach. What i walk/(my strides)–what i practice/promote…exemplify?
For we all stumble*(or “make mistakes.”) many times. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able to bridle also his whole body. 3 If we put bridles in the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide also their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: Although they are so big and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the man at the helm is inclined to go.
5 So, too, the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it makes great brags. See how small a fire it takes to set a great forest ablaze! 6 The tongue is also a fire. The tongue represents a world of unrighteousness among our body members, for it defiles all the body and sets the whole course of life*(Lit. “the wheel of the birth” (origin)) on fire, and it is set on fire by Ge·henʹna.* 7 For every kind of wild animal and bird and reptile*(or “creeping thing”) and sea creature is to be tamed and has been tamed by humans. 8 But no human can tame the tongue. It is unruly and injurious, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we praise Jehovah,* the Father, and yet with it we curse men who have come into existence “in the likeness of God.” 10 Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing.
My brothers, it is not right for things to happen this way. 11 A spring does not cause the fresh*(sweet) water and the bitter water to bubble out of the same opening, does it? 12 My brothers, a fig tree cannot produce olives, or a grapevine figs, can it? Neither can salt water produce fresh water.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him by his fine conduct demonstrate works performed with a mildness that comes from wisdom.
(James 3:2-13)
Us talkers/teachers must admit/acknowledge…we have greater accountability and responsibility; that’s an o.b.v.i.o.u.s! Teachers evoke strong emotions, reactions, huh? How many of us have had crushes on our cool teachers? Or despised a strict/tough teacher?
Do teachers have the “right” to determine what is “right” to teach??
A “truth” learned from the example of a “good” teacher…Jesus:
“As he was going on his way, a man ran up and fell on his knees before him and put the question to him: “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit everlasting life?” 18 Jesus said to him: “Why do you call me good? Nobody is good except one, God.”
Good Teacher: The man was evidently using the words “Good Teacher” as a flattering and formalistic title, since such honor was usually demanded by the religious leaders. While Jesus had no objection to being properly identified as “Teacher” and “Lord” (Joh 13:13), he directed all honor to his Father. (Mark 10:17)
Nobody is good except one, God: Jesus here recognizes Jehovah as the ultimate standard of what is good, the One who has the sovereign right to determine what is good and what is bad. By rebelliously eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and bad, Adam and Eve sought to assume that right. Unlike them, Jesus humbly leaves the setting of standards to his Father. God has expressed and defined what is good by means of what he has commanded in his Word.—Mr 10:19.
Jesus taught by way of illustrations. (A respected teacher/male commended me by calling me a “Meister” of Metaphor. This was sincere and a source of encouragement for me and not flattery at all.) Thinking in illustrations/metaphors can be very useful in learning/teaching. Illustrations and Bible Scriptures have a way of revealing hearts and things held close/r or valued. However, all of us lack the ability to precisely determine what the complete standards of so-called good and so-called bad are…or should be.
Just because i want to say something…anything about anything…do i have the right to thrust/tweet–articulate…assault with words…anywhere/anytime/anyhow?! It’s a complicated conversation…as the scriptures warn: “thoughtless words are like stabs of a sword”…May be IF we all thought more…would we hurt less?!
If my tongue is a sword/knife…cutting skills an essential requirement. Do i rough chop, slice and dice, mince, julienne, brunoise, chiffonade? Does all public speaking involve cutting remarks? Public speaking takes training/education/discipline (and well-spent years thereof). Any type of knife wielding can be dangerous without training…
Their tongue is a deadly arrow that speaks deception. With his mouth a person speaks of peace to his neighbor, But inside he lays an ambush.” (Jeremiah 9:8)
Our personal power of choice regarding communication…can be constructive vs. destructive. The power of the Tongue must be respected. Free Speech, Freedom of Speech, and Freeness of speech has the power to bring out the best and the worse in us.
A poignant Proverb…
A worthless man digs up what is bad; His speech is like a scorching fire. (Proverb 16:27)
“You don’t have to be brilliant or perfect to succeed,” says Dr. Morton C. Orman, an expert on stress and a professional public speaker. “The essence of public speaking is this: give your audience something of value.”
Partners Communicating: Commendation and Counsel Compassionately
Further readings/learnings from Jesus…an extremely exceptional teacher & his speaking/living “truth” trials…
Jesus reads about how this foretold One would preach a release to the captives, a recovery of sight to the blind, and the coming of Jehovah’s acceptable year. Jesus hands the scroll to the attendant and sits down. All eyes are intently fixed upon him. Then he speaks, probably at some length, and his comments include the significant statement: “Today this scripture that you just heard is fulfilled.”—Luke 4:21.
The people marvel at “the gracious words coming out of his mouth,” and they say to one another: “This is a son of Joseph, is it not?” But realizing that they want to see him perform powerful works like the ones they had heard about, Jesus continues: “No doubt you will apply this saying to me, ‘Physician, cure yourself. Do also here in your home territory the things we have heard were done in Capernaum.’” (Luke 4:22, 23) Jesus’ former neighbors likely feel that healing should begin at home, for the benefit of his own people first. So they may think that Jesus has slighted them.
Realizing their thinking, Jesus mentions some events in Israel’s history. There were many widows in Israel during the days of Elijah, he notes, but Elijah was not sent to any of them. Rather, he went to a non-Israelite widow in Zarephath, a town near Sidon, where Elijah performed a lifesaving miracle. (1 Kings 17:8-16) And in Elisha’s day, there were many lepers in Israel, but the prophet cleansed only Naaman the Syrian.—2 Kings 5:1, 8-14. [excerpted: At the Synagogue in Nazareth Jesus–the Way, Chapter 21, par. 6 ]
Peace–Fellow–Breathing–Fragile–Life:)… (also known as Us Talkers.)
p.s. how many nuanced words?? (IF i quickly? counted correctly?)
79
78
four
5
5/31/18 @ 3:35 p.m.
Published by: joan w