Word

Word. As I prepare to leave, I have quickly realized that this one "word" can be used in different ways and can also have a pretty wide away of meaning. I am a people person...I admit it. One thing that I am finding hard to do, given that I have just a short amount of time left before traveling overseas, is do everything that I say I want to do... Words. The intent is there, but action is required for these words to have meaning.  


Words can have different perspective. A great book that I have read over the past couple of years dealt with this topic. It's called The Noticer. Written by a guy named Andy Andrews and it is actually set in Orange Beach Alabama. The main character, Jones, is a noticer. He watches what people say and then sees what actions follow. He asked a man a question in the book that I have chewed on a whole lot over the years. The question that he asked in the book went a little like this... There are 5 birds sitting on a wire, one decides to fly away. How many birds are left? Think about it... The answer is 5. There are still 5 birds on the wire because deciding to fly away and actually flying away are two different things. We can say with words that we have decided to do something but until it is accompanied with action, it is just that, words.


Scripture uses "word"with several meanings. The one I love the most is when it describes Jesus. John 1.1 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Talk about a great way to use this word. Given that the "word," Word is used to described Jesus gave me a whole different perspective on it. Paul also writes about words but in more personal way for us. This verse in Colossians reminds me that my words should be meaningful because they should be, according to Scripture, in the name of Jesus. "And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17.


So...the take away from all of these words is that I want to do a better job of realistically following through with what I say. There is also another take away that Paul reminds us with in Phillipians 2:14, "Do all things without grumbling or disputing," and that is a possible blog entry for another day...