I’ve been in awe recently at the fact that we have the ability to create words. We can use a pen and paper or a computer, move our hands and create a sentence. A story can be formed out of our fingertips. MAGIC. So it is no surprise that they have power. There is power in our creating.

Imagine the way we could literally change the world if we used our words to give kindness and life.

Words have power. Anyone who thinks otherwise probably is doing their darndest to block out the words someone else said to them. Use the power given to you to do good. To change lives. To bring freedom. To give power. Words can enslave us, or they can free us. They can make us weak or strong.

Use your platform, whether it is a stage or a status update, to give life and encouragement, rather than cause fear or pain. One of my most recent favorite songs speaks these powerful words:

Speak, even if your voice is trembling

Please, you’ve been quiet for too long

Believe, it will be worth the risk you’re taking

– Amanda Cooke, “The Voyage”

I realize that there are a whole lot of words out there in our world. Every time anything noteworthy happens, a million people write or post about it. Then a million other people write responses to their words. And then they go back and forth in a frenzy. I don’t want to just add to the noise. I want to provide a place to think, to breathe in deep and exhale, to have a conversation about what really matters. I want my words to bring life and power, rather than hurt and separation. And I have really promised myself not to make the purpose of my words here to be political, opinionated, or any of that – because our world is loud with words of hate and bitterness.

So come in, grab a seat. Take a deep breath…and exhale. Whew. Life is fast paced and we are always rushing and something always needs done but sometimes – sometimes you just need to stop. We need to sit long, linger, breath deeply, and let our souls catch up with our bodies. We need to take a step back from all our opinions and hurts and allow God to speak into our situations. We need to put down the walls and the swords and stop fighting each other.

We need to imagine a world where we can love each other well, in our words and our actions. Where we use our words not to promote ourselves or our opinions, but to build one another up and give God glory.

This world is hard to be in. It is so messy and broken. But there is good in all of us. ALL of us.

There isn’t a person you wouldn’t love if you could read their story.

– Marjorie P. Hinckley

Today, let’s take a seat around the table, seeing each person as valued and GOOD. Risking it all to love one another. Speaking words that build up, not tear down. Words that don’t just add to the noise, but bring peace to the weary, strength to the weak, life to the hopeless.

Here is my prayer for our world right now:

God, this world – this life – it is so hard. So much brokenness and so much noise. So many opinions and words and fights. So many hurting and confused people – Lord, we’re wondering where you are? Why don’t You do something? We are a collective Job wondering why you have left us here in all this pain?

Lord, we are so far from You. We run, or sometimes walk, away from Your Word, Your Purpose, Your Plan. We don’t follow You, so we get lost. We need you badly.

God, You’re crying over Paris, right? Over the refugees? Over the homeless? The imprisoned? The abused? This all hurts Your heart, right?!

Our world is not the way You intended it. It is loud – so many buzzing phones, hurtful conversations, bombings, fights, words of little importance that are tossed out into our already overcrowded atmosphere of hate and sorrow.

Lord, why are the kind and loving people quiet? Will you raise up leaders and communities who want to speak grace, hope, and love to the world? Why are the hateful people always the loudest? And why do we listen to them?

Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.  

– Martin Luther King Jr.

We need to toss words of hope, love, compassion, care, JOY, grace, empathy…out into our gray world filled with a landfill of dead, mean, hurtful words. Awaken our souls and hearts to love each other and see and seek the GOOD. It exists in all of us, may we have the patience and dedication to find it.

 We have this gift of goodness inside us, and we are in charge of how that is played out in our lives. We choose what kind of noise we add to the world. Choose wisely.

Amen.