Posts Tagged: Matthew 12:36

“THE MATTER OF WORDS MATTERING”

On August 5, 2021 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

A few days ago, I did a post on gratitude. In it, I used the word “supernature” (https://www.downtoearthbeliever.com/?p=2157). A friend of mine, who is a loyal reader of these posts, asked a really great question about this word “supernature”. Her question and my attempt to answer it is the basis for this post. (I mention, in a positive way, Buddhists in this post. No, I am not a Buddhist, but I do value certain things that some of them say.)

Dianna wrote,

“Good morning,

It’s good to have an attitude of gratitude. What do you mean by supernature? Tried looking it up, but only found a weird song.

Thanks,

Dianna”

My reply was as follows:

“Dear Dianna,

Thanks for reading and thanks for being a close reader!

Sometimes, I just use the wrong word. At other times, I am using a noun intentionally where an adjective should be used. (It jolts me and hopefully readers out of my/their verbal lethargy.) At other times, I just make up a word.

In this case, I was thinking to myself, “Well, we have the adjectives “natural” and “supernatural”. Why not have the word “supernature” to balance “nature”? I had never heard the word “supernature” before, but I decided to use it anyway.

Sometimes, I also use an all-embracing noun where a more specific one might seem more appropriate. For example, I will say/write that I am anger instead of angry. I learned this from some of the Buddhists I hang out with. Some of them hold that you are whatever you are thinking or feeling at any given moment. So, if I am angry, I am at that moment anger. This helps me to take ownership of whatever I am thinking or feeling in the moment and to realize the importance of whatever I am thinking or feeling in the moment.

Good catch and good question! What we say and how we say it matters. And it is good to be held accountable for how we use our words.

With your permission, may I use your good question and my response as tomorrow’s post?

Daryl”

And permission was graciously granted! But, of course, I was too busy piddling around to write the post right away.

I really do believe that our words—my words—matter. My mom (like most moms, quite likely) used to quote the old saying,

“Sticks and stones may break my bones,

but words will never hurt me.”

My mom was an honest person, but I think she was not speaking the whole truth on this one. I tend to change one word in the saying. I think that it better reflects reality.

“Sticks and stones may break my bones,

but words will really hurt me.”

Jesus said that we would give an account of every idle or useless word (Matthew 12:36). How much more so, words that are harmful!

If it were not for Jesus Christ, for his redemptive death on behalf of all humanity, and the forgiveness of sins, my words alone would send me to hell. I’ve said a lot of useless and harmful words across my lifetime.

So, my intention is to be careful with my words today. Care to join me?

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“ON BEING EVALUATED AS A GUEST”

On August 6, 2018 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

“And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak.” (Matthew 12:36, New Living Translation)

“And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,” (Hebrews 9:27, New Living Translation)

My wife and I, for our forty-fifth wedding anniversary, took a nice trip to Hocking Hills State Park.  We stayed in an Airbnb.  We’ve stayed in bed and breakfast establishments before, but not an Airbnb.  I did not realize that it isn’t just the b & b that is evaluated by the guests.  The guests are also evaluated by the person who runs the b & b.

Our host gave us a glowing review, which I appreciated a lot.  However, this whole set-up has set me to thinking about other evaluations.

For example, I believe in a final judgment by God.  What will he say about me as His guest?

But it’s not just God.  What about the other guests I interact with while I’m here?  In a sense, they are also my hosts.  After all, I depend upon them in many ways and for many things.  How would they evaluate me as a guest?

My softball coach?

My teammates?

My church sisters and brothers?

My twelve-step fellow soldiers?

My Hebrew students?

My wife?  (Oh, my!  Now there’s an important review!)

But also, what about the people with whom I have more casual contact?  The server who takes care of me when I go out to eat?  My chiropractor?  Other drivers on the highway?

Would all of these people—and many more—give me a good review.  Would they rank me as kind and polite?

And then there is the planet itself.  Do I strive to leave it in a clean and respectful manner?  If the earth could talk, what would the earth have to say about my time here?  Perhaps the earth can talk, and the real problem is that I don’t listen.

All teachers know that, no matter what subject is being taught, there is one question every student wants to ask: “Will this be on the test?”

Perhaps if I started every day knowing what the questions are (and I generally do know that), I would live more mindfully.  Knowing that I will be reviewed might make me a better person.

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