The Power of the Towel

We've all heard it. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." What an aweful saying. First off, sticks and stones? I can see logs and boulders, or at the least, branches and rocks, but sticks and stones? Come on! Who are we kidding? Maybe, "Sticks and stones will leave a bruise," but that may even be pushing it. Of course, that is the least of the concerns we should have with this phrase, as it grossly underestimates the power of words. Wounds from sticks and stones, or logs and boulders, may be gone in a matter or days, weeks, or possibly months, but wounds left from harsh words can last a lifetime.

Words have the power to tear down, build up, prove folly, reveal wisdom, express truth, and carry out deceit. We can see the chasm that separates the two ends of the spectrum in two verses, though the ideas are strewn throughout Scripture. Proverbs 16:24 says that "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones." But, in James 3:6 we are made aware that "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."

I'm an outgoing person who loves to talk. I'm usually loud and long-winded. However, the bible warns people like me that "When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise." (Prov. 10:19) It also mentions that "a gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (Prov. 15:1)

What a challenge, especially in the information age, to do what James says can't be done, and that is to tame our tongue. Information is all about words. Words are everywhere, and so it's no wonder we have incidents with people leaving radio and television because of ill-placed words, most recently seen in the Don Imus/Rutgers women's basketball team incident, or public feuds like Donald Trump and Rosie O'Donnell.

If that isn't enough, look at the words that Christ, Himself, uses in Matthew 12:34 & 37, "...For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks...For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." If that doesn't make us more careful about what comes out of our mouths, I'm not sure what will.