Posts Tagged: words

“MATURITY: THE ART OF RECOGNIZING THE CONSEQUENCES”

On December 16, 2021 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

For several years now, I have been taking a word or a short phrase to set the tone for my year. The word for 2022 is “maturity”. I figured that I would start the year a little early. So, here goes!

But first an important question: What is maturity? There are probably many aspects to the understanding and living out of maturity. A friend and I were talking about what maturity is, and he came up with a simply wonderful and wonderfully simple definition: Maturity is recognizing that there are consequences to all our actions, words, and thoughts, good and bad.

Perhaps the opposite of maturity is not immaturity, but insanity. Insanity has been defined as “doing the same thing over and over—and expecting different results.

When I was little, I thought that I could get by with things. I rarely succeeded. I still sometimes fall into that thought. However, it simply isn’t so. Nobody gets by with anything. When I say or do something unkind, there is an immediate wound to another person. There is also an immediate self-inflicted wound on my heart and mind and soul. Even my thinking (which usually precedes my speaking and acting) leaves a wound. The wound may seem small to me, but it is big to the victim. It will not heal quickly. It may get infected and never heal

 When I say or do or something kind, good comes into being for others and for myself. There are immediate consequences for good thoughts and words and deeds. These consequences are often even less perceptible than the effect of harmful thoughts and words and deeds. But imperceptible doesn’t mean insignificant.

So, today, I am going to think and speak and act in a mature, consequential manner. Today, I am choosing to be mature. And I am determined to be mature in good ways. Living consequentially beats living inconsequentially every time.

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“OBEYING WITH ALACRITY”

On April 22, 2019 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer


I love words.  They are no substitute for reality, but they can become a wonderful compost in which real deeds can thrive.

Take the word “alacrity”, for example.  I used it today in my journal entry.

“God, you have given me so much!  I am not sufficiently grateful, loving, or obedient.  Please help me to become more so in all those ways.  Help me to love you more today, to be more grateful, to obey with alacrity.”

I love words, but I often forget their precise meaning.  However, because my friends think I’m smart (and because many of the words I love have Greek or Roman bases), I can get by with  using words that I don’t really understand.  So, after using the word “alacrity”, I had to go back and look up the durned thing.

My first hit was “brisk and cheerful readiness.”

Well, that sounds pretty good, doesn’t it!?

Of course, like every other human on the planet, I sometimes struggle with alacrity.  Oh yes, I will obey—eventually.  But I don’t have to like it.

By the way, do you know what the opposite of alacrity is?  Apathy.  And apathy is so rampant, so prevalent, that it is mistaken these days for the norm.

Unfortunately, people who do things with alacrity often irritate me.  Their enthusiasm their zest for life and living, casts a dreary light on my own apathy.  And when I strive for alacrity, I often irritate others as well.

In my google sleuthing, I noticed that the usage of alacrity has radically declined since 1800.  I am not surprised.  We have elevated apathy to an art form.  It isn’t particularly good art form, but we shouldn’t let that stop us, should we?  Well, maybe we should stop.

So, Self, what is it going to be today?  Are you going to do things with brisk and cheerful readiness, or not?

Your choice!  My slogan for today: “Bring back alacrity!”

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Too Many Words

On June 2, 2016 by Dteb With 0 Comments - down to earth believer

“I have often regretted speech, never my silence” (Publilius Syrus, Maxim 1070).

My wife thinks that I use too many words.  She’s right.

Let me say more about that!

I have always been fascinated by words.  I was that strange kid who cried in first grade when he had to give up his reading workbook at the end of the school year.  (No, I am not kidding!)

That is strike one.

Also, I am blessed (??) with Attention Deficit Disorder, so I struggle to remember what I just said.  (Did I mention that I have Attention Deficit Disorder?)

Steeerike 2!

Furthermore, I am profoundly mistrustful about my own communication skills.  I don’t doubt that you are capable of understanding plain English—although it isn’t always so plain, is it?  What I am wondering is whether or not what I just said was plain English.  So, I keep trying to communicate clearly.

Strike 3!  I’m out!

However, the Scripture is even more direct than my kind and patient wife is.

“Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few” (Ecclesiastes 5:2).

Jesus said, “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36).

James seems to link talking too much with anger—a linkage which makes me really angry!

“This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20).

So, I really need to work on improving my “T.Q” (Terse Quotient).  But how to do I go about working on this?

For one thing, I can realize and confess that if the Bible teaches or commands something, it is not likely impossible.  What is important to God may be difficult.  In fact, it often is.  However, it is rarely impossible.

Second, I can change my attitude toward words.  Yes, I am fascinated by words.  However, that doesn’t automatically mean that I have to use them as much as I do.  What is loved can still be used sparingly.  “Don’t talk so much. You keep putting your foot in your mouth. Be sensible and turn off the flow!” (Proverbs 10:19, The Living Bible).

Third, I can begin thinking a little more highly of my communication skills.  I was talking on the phone this morning with a friend.  We encourage and hold one another accountable.  He prayed for me over the phone, and said something to the effect that I was wise in what I said, and a good listener.  My friend is no fool.  He is a wise speaker and a good listener as well.  I need to start listening to wise friends (including my wife), and become an even better listener by turning off the flow of words.

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