Thursday, May 26, 2011

Words Let Loose

An indelible photo of a gaunt man sitting on a bench remains long after Reverend Camping's predication of the Rapture goes awry.

"I invested my life's savings."

The man holds a package on his lap and stares ahead. His clothes hang on his thin frame. He slumps.

"I'm disappointed." and then he adds, " the past few months have been exciting."

Why does his face remain with me? What is so compelling about this figure? I don't doubt that touring around the United States in a bus, handing out brochures, being part of a group was exciting—especially if you often felt isolated or lonely.

What happens to words we say? Words that promise, words that hurt?Words that wear themselves out with a false hospitality.

Word sleuths estimate that the average adult utters about 8,000 words a day. How many of those words count? How many are even noticed? How many do you want back? How many do you want to rearrange?

With all those words spewed out it's easy to misinterpret. And the hearer brings her own definitions, her own context. Who hasn't apologized for the errant word?

And words once let out remain outside of our province. We can't rein them in, pretend they weren't said, start over with a new sentence. More words must be expended to mend the rifts. Then there are the words that buoy the spirit, are played back continually, form a backbone of a relationship. words that mentor, words that heal, words that lift the spirit, words of praise.

But it's the other words—the words that can't be reeled in, tucked away.Thy are like dust mites infiltrating the atmosphere.

Often those words aren't attached to long speeches. They are short statements with long lives. For some people those statements, even when forgotten or forgiven, still leave traces. Traces that may last for a lifetime.

Will the man who sat on the bench be satisfied with the months traveling around in a bus, the camaraderie of the believers? Will be believe the reverend's explanation and the new date? Does it matter?

Think of the words we all set in motion. If 8,000 is an accurate figure then in the course of one year I speak 2,920,000 words. That's a lot of words to take responsibility for, a lot of words to watch. How many do you want back? How many do you want to rearrange?

I have my list.

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