Transformation

This weekend’s adventure began in the dark.  So dark that I could not see past my car’s headlights.  I could not distract myself with my usual activities. I was alone and isolated in the dark.

Until at last I saw it, the glimmer of light that held hope for the new day. It started subtle.  The black sky gave way in one corner to a darker blue.  And with each passing mile and moment the light became more prevalent.  The rainbow of colors the light painted as it raced across the sky were amazing!  In particular, the yellow/gold color with hints of pink.   It chased away the darkness and left a fiery beauty.

Just as the sun can “sneak” in and steel the power from darkness, so do our words. We have the power to create positive space just by carefully choosing the things we say.  Alternately, we have the power to speak out of spite and hurt those closest to us. 

A parable compares the tongue to the rudder of a ship.  The whole ship turns on the command of a small rudder.  Just as our words (when carefully chosen) have the power to change the course of events for better or worse.  

Understanding how important words are…It helps to understand the emotional place from which our words originate.   Anger is an umbrella that covers up some other emotion.  The trick is to be able to look beneath the surface and identify those emotions. And that takes a good bit of practice and self-awareness.

After all that, we should be mindful to use your words when someone else is ready to hear them. No matter how carefully and thoughtfully you say something, someone might not be of a mindset to receive it. We should always be respectful of where another human is on their journey.

We are not responsible for another person’s awareness. It is all we can do to remain aware in our own journey.  To speak our truth.  There in lies the real transformative power.

Much love,