Hosanna

by James Bell

It’s an old Southern phrase, meaning that a person had heard something so profound or shocking that he was rendered speechless.  It is also, quite often, a really good idea. Words can hurt much worse than you ever intended them to.  Words are like bullets. They can intimidate up close or even drop someone from a distance. One poor soul said,

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words…..can drive me straight to the therapist and pay for his next vacation.”

Now, you may say that you’re not a word person, and that you don’t care about all this. But the way you say it can be revealing.

“I reckon if a feller gets his shirt in a snit ’bout my words, he kin have the gumption to tell me or jest walk away from it.  I ain’t no Psachytrist.”  (simple, direct, frustrated)

“The complexity and confusion involved with word usage is derived from the multiple meanings assigned to words by different cultures and demographics.” (analytical)

“Words are like notes on a music sheet or strokes of the artist’s brush.  They create, inspire, and bring visions to life.”  (insightful, hopeful, perhaps a little naive)

“I say things I regret sometimes. But talking is the way I connect. My friends will sift what I say and overlook the stupid stuff, while hearing my heart.”  (honest, apathetic)

Parental words have messed up their kid’s lives. Children’s words have broken parent’s hearts. Doctor’s words can bring assurance or a cold wave of fear.  Loving words can warm a cold heart. Coaches’ words drive underdogs to victory. Ministering words can bring life back into perspective. What about your words?

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14, that prophetic words (words for others, given to you by God) will bless, comfort, and encourage.  Now, if that is what God will do through us, it tells me what He wants to do in us. The Gospel of John tells us that Jesus is the Word.  He is the essence of God speaking. When I am living with the awareness of being “in Christ”, it does affect my conversation. Words become life-giving, encouraging and even lots of fun.

But I have been known to slip.  Though I’m improving as I grow in this revelation, there have been times that the slip has become an avalanche.  I love to eat, but poorly chosen words don’t taste that good.  What Ike did to Galveston in one unfortunate night will take a long time to restore. Words can be like that.

A sagacious Old Testament writer wrote, ”Set a watch, Oh Lord, before my mouth.”  I know the feeling, but being a son of the south, I tend to respond to my verbose inclinations with something like,

“Well, shut my mouth!”

Hey, it works for me.  Or does it?

Tags: Words

You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.