The Power of a Text

Remember the saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words may never hurt me?"  Yeah, right.  How about the words of English author Edward Bulwar-Lytton, "The pen is mightier than the sword." Yeah, sure.   So which one is right?  In one sense, words cannot hurt.   In another sense, words are capable of greater things than the swordsman in a battle. It doesn't seem to matter whether words scratched in dirt, inked with a quill, or even sent in a text.  Words do have power and the delivery does matter. 

What got me thinking about this tonight were two texts from two people tonight about five minutes  apart. One was from a very close friend thanking me for my friendship with him.  All I did was send him a text to ask him about a situation I knew that had been difficult for he and his wife, then I shared that I would be praying for them.  Then, in an unexpected turn, I was called a friend and told that it was no accident for me to land where I am.  My heart felt joy!  And then, as if God knew that I needed another reminder, my brother sends me a text saying that he was making a bed for my sister and her husband who were coming to visit him and his wife, and ran across a book that I gave him two years ago.  I remember giving him the book as a Christmas present, but I don't remember the note I wrote him as a part of that gift.  Evidently the written note reminded him, two years ago that he read the book but felt like he never thanked me for the book and the note.  So in a text, he said thank you.  Once again, my heart experienced joy.  Funny, as I am writing this right now, yet another reminder has come to mind.  Today I was handed a handwritten note from an intern that has worked in our office.  It was addressed to my wife and I.  She said that we had made a difference in her world and she took the time to say thank you by writing it out and handing it to me as she left, done with her internship. 

Three separate occasions of the use of words have in one day given my heart leaps of joy.  I have been reminded from each of these instances that I matter.  I am very grateful for those reminders, but what has stirred me the most has been the feeling I have received and it is what I have felt that I wish for others to feel.  I have been encouraged.  There's a concept:  encouraging another person with my words.  That is what I need to do.  That is what I want others to feel.  Therefore, I am going to work harder to make my words more affirming to those that come across my path.  By the way, this ah-ha moment in my life was written by the Apostle Paul several thousand years ago in 1 Thessalonians 5:11.  Funny thing, it is still a great thing to do now!  I have been reminded today!   Thank you Scott, Danny, and Sarah!  Your encouragement made a difference for me!

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. 1 Th 5:11

A Hill Far Away, Moved Closer

Yesterday at sunrise, I stood on a hill at the foot of a cross with 300-400 early risers.  We sang, prayed, and proclaimed the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior.  It was a celebration that was full of excitement and opportunity.  The weather was perfect with a gentle breeze blowing as the sun rose over Hanging Rock.  I held the tiny hands of two little girls and watched them take in the excitement of this great gathering of believers.  Just like the old hymn, I stood amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazerene.  Yes, Jesus was there.  I heard Him in the chirping of the birds.  I saw Him in the faces of brothers and sisters who know Him personally and obviously weren't ashamed to show it.  I felt Him as the breeze blew and as I snuggled with two of my daughters and my wife. In just a few minutes, I experienced all of these things.  Then I looked at the cross.  Even though I knew this hill on a Christmas Tree farm in Avery County, North Carolina was not Golgotha, just for a moment in time that "hill far away" was suddenly very close.  I was there and that cross was real, but what I experienced in the greatest of ways was its emptiness!  The cross extended towards the beautiful sky and the cross beam pointed toward the ends of the earth; the symbol of all the pain of humanity becoming reconciled with the Holiness of God.  The reconciliation was complete, the price was paid in full, and forever more the cross would remain empty.  This particular Easter morning, I was able to be reminded of a powerful truth that the Psalmist wrote about thousands of years ago: 

 

For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

                              Psalm 57:10 (NIV)

How did he know, centuries before this happened, that God's love could be so great?  How did he know that it would reach to the heavens and God's faithfulness reaches the skies?  Obviously, the Psalmist experienced this great love and knew of His faithfulness first hand.  I wonder though, could the Psalmist have pictured the height of the cross as God's great love reaching to the heavens?  And could he have pictured the width of the cross as God's faithfulness reaching across the skies?  Works for me!  How about you?