Without Love

When this young, aspiring musician received his first set of drums, he put all his energy into becoming a cymbal virtuoso. Each time he picked up his sticks he’d use them to pummel those metal discs causing the room and me to seemingly vibrate! I could only take the cymbal noise for so long though before I had to cover my ears for protection and sometimes, I’d even have to leave the room.

Being at my grandson’s “rock concert” isn’t the only time I’ve experienced too much noise.The reverberation of words written or spoken by others have also caused me to pull away. Anyone else ever have someone want you to believe what they’re saying comes from a place of care, but the reality is, they tear you down to build themselves up? 

And how about social media? Edward Bulwer-Lytton said back in the 1800’s, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” He meant it in a very positive way. In our case, it can be said that the keyboard is mightier than the sword and it’s NOT so good at all.  We just have to glance in the comment sections of our own accounts or those of someone else’s to see that when using a screen as a shield, sharp words are easy to thrust into another’s heart.

Harsh words. Clang! Derogatory words. Bang! Threatening words. Crash! The vibration of unkind words in our feeds, on TV, or between people who don’t agree on something can fill our ears, our minds and our lives. I don’t know about you, but battered by it all, I sometimes just have to block out all the noise and leave the “room”. 

“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, 

but didn’t love others, I would only be

 a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.”

1 Corinthians 13:1(NLT)

Before I move on I must tell you that I have been a “noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” myself more times than I’d like to admit. Maybe not as publicly as some, but in my mind or within a small trusted circle my “sticks” have bashed someone else. Why? I wasn’t speaking out of love. And that’s what we’re missing so much of the time today isn’t it? Love for one another.

It’s difficult for me to comprehend sometimes how freely foul language, hurtful words, and provokable dialog have replaced manners, common sense, and compassion. I guess some may say that I sound old and maybe I do, but it doesn’t change the fact that noisy gongs and clanging cymbals do nothing to create harmony to the ensemble of those around us or to our own souls.

I’ve already written past the suggested five minutes and I could probably continue on for quite awhile about my worries for the world and the future world of my grandsons, but in the end I still wouldn’t have answers for how to quell the negative cacophony being broadcast around us everyday. HOWEVER, I can do something about putting my sticks down and silencing my own part in it. Want to join me and put yours down too?

“Don’t use foul or abusive language. 

Let everything you say be good and helpful, 

so that your words will be encouragement to those who hear them.

Ephesians 4:29 (NLT) 

The Bible is full of guidance about the power of the words we say and how not to use our tongue as a weapon, but, “Let everything you say be good and helpful” pretty much says it all. I desire to make this my normal rhythm and to put it into practice I’ve been trying to “skip a beat” and pause before I respond verbally or before hitting send. Believe me, I’m still a work in progress but to help I’ve been stopping to ask myself first, “Is this going to add anything positive to the conversation?” Secondly, and maybe most importantly, “Would I say this if I was standing in front of the person I’m talking about or to?” Let me tell you, the delete button has been my friend! Maybe you know exactly what I mean. 

Here’s the hard truth: it doesn’t matter how much we think we know, how deeply we believe, or how convinced we are that we’re right, if we don’t convey our message with love for one another, we’re just making a lot of noise in world already full of gongs and cymbals that are so loud we want to cover our ears. So what do we do instead? Let’s ask God to help us be music to the ears of those listening, our words spoken with this kind of love:

“Love is patient; love is kind.

Love isn’t envious, doesn’t boast, brag, or strut about.

There’s no arrogance in love; 

it’s never rude, crude, or indecent-

it’s not self-absorbed.

Love isn’t easily upset.

Love doesn’t tally wrongs or celebrate injustice;

but truth-yes-truth-is love’s delight!”

1 Corinthians 13:4-6 (The Voice)

And even when we (I) know all of this and STILL are tempted to pick up the drum sticks? I’m learning we need to ultimately let these Words inspire us to lay them back down:

“May the words of my mouth

 and the meditation of my heart

 be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.”

Psalm 19:14 (NLT)

Today I am joining others at http://www.fiveminutefriday.com in writing to the prompt, Noise. Click over to read more!