last semester in my logos group we studied the book of james. there are lots of themes throughout the book, the most obvious is probably the correlation between faith and works, but the one that challenges me the most is the tongue. james devotes almost a whole chapter of his book to this small organ. and he's not the only one, proverbs says that life and death are in the power of the tongue (prov. 18:21). when we were discussing it in our bible study, my partner ben brought up a quote by abraham lincoln, "better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." it's true that often we are too quick to speak and our words cause a world of damage and hurt, but what about the flip side of that? what about the power of life in our words? i think for a long time i lived under the same assumption that abe lincoln did, that we should be quiet, that way people might think we're deep or stoic or something like that. we can remain a mystery. but now i think that's just an excuse. no - it's more like a form of bondage, holding me back from speaking truth and healing and encouragement and praise and even my own opinion on things.

all that to say, having a blog freaks me out. a lot. i've spent the past few days thinking of posts in my head over and over again and then talking myself out of writing them because i don't think they're interesting enough or something stupid like that. i'm getting better though, i posted this right?

"the pressure disappeared with the first word he put on paper. he thought - while his hand moved rapidly - what a power there was in words; later for those who heard them, but first for the one who found them; a healing power, a solution, like the breaking of a barrier. he thought, perhaps the basic secret the scientists have never discovered, the first fount of life, is that which happens when a thought takes shape in words."
-ayn rand, The Fountainhead

4 comments

1. gsthomas on May 26, 2009 at 4:06 PM

   I can't stand Ayn Rand's books and I think her "philosophy" is stupid.
   
   Still, I think what the Book of James was telling us is 'Thou shalt use Spell Check". Also, Proverbs 21:34 "A fool and his blog soon stop updating, but a wise man will produce many posts"

    
2. MeghG on May 26, 2009 at 10:35 PM

   syd, i love it when you speak out. i have definitely seen the power of words that bring life and encouragement through you. keep letting it flow :)

    
3. Sarah on May 26, 2009 at 11:41 PM

   dude, seriously, that same paragraph i mentally bookmarked because i love what she says. That's great, keep posting!
   
   but don't waste my time.....
   
   
   
   
   jk!

    
4. Ruth on May 27, 2009 at 12:05 PM

   girl, write. you have a wise head on your shoulders full of insight. trust the Lord and share what he's teaching you!