Do words ever echo in your brain? Ever had a song you can’t get off your mind? Ever received a kind word that lingered like the scent of a fragrant rose? On the other hand, has anyone said something to you that you know to be false but it seems to prick like the thorns of that rosebush, get stuck in your heart like a stubborn splinter?
The Epistle of James says rather graphically that words are small things capable of starting a whole forest fire in our lives (Jas 3:5b-10). The author says ironically that we both bless God and then turn around and “…curse those who are made in the likeness of God” (Jas 3:9). And it’s amazing how much power those words of accusation, of negativity, those shaming words have, yes?
But then the writer of Ephesians directs us to express “…what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Eph 4:29, NIV). Proverbs says life giving words can be like “…apples of gold in a setting of silver” (Prov 25:11). And Jesus said cryptically that folks would know we are His disciples, not if we are skilled at vitriolic accusation of people we think are wrong but “…if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:35).
We live in a world of thorns and roses, yes? The beauty of life, the fragrance of Jesus’ presence, the life giving kindness of which people are capable, the love of God among the people of God—this fruit of the Spirit of God seems to lie right next to the thorns of hatred, rejection, self-justified wrath against our fellow human beings.
Sometimes, perhaps much of the time, that love and that hatred can exist side by side in our own hearts. The wheat of God’s fruitful harvest seems to perpetually live alongside the tares, the noxious weeds of our more poisonous selves. And we may yearn to be life giving, loving ambassadors of Christ yet find that, with Paul, the good that we want to do we don’t do. Especially with those closest to us.
How?
How can we reflect more fully the beauty of the rose rather than the sting of the thorns within us?
Romans 12:2 speaks of our being transformed by the renewing of our minds. Or as the cognitive behavioral folks would say we can gradually, intentionally, through repetition of word and behavior alter our core beliefs. Simply, our words and behavior can reflect what our hearts feed on.
We can choose, not all at once, but here a little there a little, to feed on, lean into, absorb, and internalize the Word of God’s grace, Jesus.
We are usually quite adept at repeating to ourselves, in tone and literal recall, the words of accusation, bitterness, hatred we have endured. Someone told me a while back, because of a position I took, that I am a hypocrite and call God a liar. I have repeated those words to myself over and over, to the point that I was afraid to say anything lest I blaspheme God and render damnation to others! It took a couple of months but I finally was able to let God transform my thinking: yes I have made mistakes and will again but that doesn’t let me off the hook of trying at least to express what I believe to be a truthful and loving witness to Jesus Christ.
It takes time, you see, for the still, small voice of God to overcome the loud, arrogant, and oh so sure edicts of the thieves who would break through, steal our peace, kill our faith, and destroy our witness. It takes time, listening, feeding, reflection, … not just in a nice quiet time or two. God told Joshua that the pursuit of God’s call requires meditating on the Word of God continually, “…day and night” (Josh 1:8). We can choose.
There will always be thorns surrounding the roses of our lives; the wheat will always be mixed with the tares; and the evil of hatred will always stand right alongside the voices of love. It is what we choose to feed on, to absorb, to dwell on and bathe in that will determine what defines and comes out of our hearts.
God invites us still, as God did at Jesus’ baptism, “This is my beloved Son. Hear Him!”