Communicare
The ancient Book of Beginnings (Genesis) opens by claiming that God uses magical words to bring forth order (light, land, animals, people) from chaos (formless, empty darkness). It is hard to fathom the extraordinary power required to call forth matter into existence, simply by the utterances of one’s speech: communication. If there is a God, that is certainly a compelling one to follow!
According to the Wisdom Literature (Proverbs 18:21), the tongue can bring death or life. The imagery that follows in the next line of this verse is interesting and instructive: it states that those who love to talk will eat of its fruit – giving the strong suggestion that what we sow with words, we will reap in the fruit we grow, pick and eat of.
As social beings, our communication encompasses not just words but also actions and body language, it is a powerful means to convey our messages.
James 1:19-21 says "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let everyone be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath or anger.”
The way we communicate with one another does have magical properties. It has the power to lift one’s spirits toward heaven; or drag another person down into hopelessness and despair (i.e. hell).
With the power of our utterances, we can speak of a future that has purpose, meaning and hope. We use our words to plan this future together and bring what was once an idea into reality through the actions of our hands: word becomes flesh.
Let us continue to be the community that uses the power of our words to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Then we will be known as the community that communicates with love and truth, because we care for each other.
Then, imagine what kind of heaven on earth we may be able to create together!
