For as long as I can remember, I have loved words. As a child, I loved words because they told a story. They held so much captive power that sitting in my living room could feel like running through the rain forest of a magical country. I could imagine I was anywhere. I could imagine I was anyone. But, as I got older, I also learned that the power of words can be used to destroy. In recent news, incidents of bullying, riots, and twitter battles have been plastered across the media. Social networks that are supposed to connect people create irreparable divides as people argue over opinions. Words that on one hand can be so wonderful also have a deadly potential.
In school, we are taught the history of the world through the words of the past. We learn about wars, rulers both good and bad, times of peace, ingenuity, and culture. We learn that people will cling fiercely to what they believe in it, some willing to lay down their life for their cause. In relationships, we learn that words can uplift, encourage, and tear down. We learn that the way people feel about themselves often translates into how they treat others. In churches, we learn that there are words of hope that are a beacon for the future. We cling to the words of those who have walked the faith before us.
I am saddened that the words I love can be twisted into daggers, thrown carelessly. However, I also know that in the darkness there are still strong voices, calling out with words of peace, of hope, of love. A love that calls us to seek out the humanity of others. To search deeper than our own biases, beliefs, and opinions to love others the way Jesus loves us. When we recognize that being human means that we are different, we open our hearts to allowing that humanity to exist. The power of the pen is a valuable asset. We must learn to come together as a people rather than letting the flying of our tongues or the tapping on our keyboard to brutally dehumanize others.
