My Two Cents - Language, and the Heart

It was an interesting discussion on the poetry group, on Goodreads.com. It was about bad or vulgar language. In art, poetry or in posts about art. It was a lively and sometimes vulgar discussion, and frankly very entertaining. I think looking back, as fun as it was, and for some people, a hard discussion, I think it misses the mark a little.

Language sometimes fails me. Words sometimes don’t come that get close to expressing the depth of the emotion I am trying to express. So for me the use of whatever word conveys what I feel or want to express is what I will generally use. Yes, yes, when and where. It evokes a vastly different reaction from some. MOst of us, will not want to admit that more of us than not, have colorful speach when not at church or in polite society. Is it just the language of the workers, the masses, the uneducated? Nope. SOme people are simply just better at filtering and taking that final breath before uttering what they really feel like saying.

For you who have made spiritual decisions to clean up the language, great. I applaud you, but the very Jesus that works within you to finish what He started in you, to complete the work begun, the very Savior, the cornerstone of your (and my) faith and walk, used the language of the people and at times said things that the leaders blasted him for being blasphemous or base.

I will drop an “f” bomb, an “a” bomb, an “s” bomb, from time to time, and every other colorful bomb, when the emotions get the better of me and the expression is stilted, so that a more base choice is made, but where I will try to govern myself even more is the heart that says such things in anger.

The motivation when it is to express, but not attack, I will from now on have more grace for. Meanness makes me feel sick to my stomach, when I think that the words are used to try to hurt another person. Where does it become sin? The bible talks about vulgarities, but my own study has ended up with me feeling that the intent was when disrespect for sexuality, meanness, each other, God, simply, the motivation of the words chosen. Its sin when it separates us from God for those who are religious. For those however who are not, I suggest then, that regardless of theology or humanology, maybe for now we could try to watch more, our motivation to hurt, to destroy, to tear down, and maybe focus more on building up and encouraging.

I know I am preaching, but, if the words said, are simply in bad taste, well, I will take a deep breath and remember the more important value of how we love each other, accept each other, celebrate the differences, and as a Christian, my core value should be to love and spread love that is saving and grace filled not judgemental, if I am not a total hypocrit. And if I am not looking to a higher value, yet maybe the world would be a better place if we said what we felt honestly and candidly, yet tried to have grace towards each other as people. Give people room to be themselves and celebrate the individual.

Control of speach is the first step in the control of thought, and eventually the taking or control of the freedoms which we celebrate and hold sacred.

My two cents for today, September 21st, 2010.

Have a great day!

Rob