To Speak or Not to Speak
The world is full of speakers, some of whom take to social media to enlarge their audience. We know how easy it is to say the wrong word, often uttered in anger, or out of frustration. It seems even easier to press “Send”, and so dispatch a word that will hurt those who receive it. Often the recipients are sportswomen, politicians, especially women and others who are in the public eye. Sadly, much of the content of messages is incredibly cruel and hurtful. I wonder which is easier to control - one’s hand or one’s mouth? Of course, the words originate in neither mouth nor hand, but in our thoughts and prejudices.
I wonder if we can learn a lesson from the cranes that inhabit the Taurus mountains in southern Turkey. For, I understand, they tend to cackle as they fly, and that noise attracts the attention of eagles who just love a nice crane for lunch or supper! The experienced cranes have learned to avoid that fate by filling their mouths with stones prior to take off, and this inhibits their tendency to cackle. Wise birds!
The writer of Proverbs has several things to say about the mouth/lips. For example: ‘A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul’ (18v7) And again: ‘He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction’ (13v3). James, in his epistle, likens the tongue to a fire, being a small thing which, like a match, can set a forest ablaze. And he claims that humans have tamed every kind of animal, but none has been able to tame the tongue! (James 3 v.1f)
Friendships can be ruined by a careless word or tweet! Recall the effects of one woman’s tweet calling on folk to burn hostels housing asylum seekers, following the terrible events in Southport last year. Alas, there is one man I wish was like the wise crane, and put stones in his mouth or boxing gloves on his hands! I leave you to guess who I might have in mind!
If only we could all guard our speech like the cranes! (Yes, me included!)
I leave you with a verse from an anonymous writer, and one from a hymn by F. R Havergal:
‘Lord, help me watch the words I say ‘Take my voice and let me sing
And keep them few and sweet. Always only for my King
For I don’t know from day to day Take my lips and let them be
Which ones I’ll have to eat!’ Filled with messages from Thee’
Rev’d John Whittle