First Baptist Church of Herndon

When Words Fail

Linda Soller | Mar 09, 2020

Words are representations. We use them all the time. Sometimes words alone get results, but other times they fail. Words often require an action, a sincere feeling, or a real effort to have the desired impact. Sometimes they mean something different to different people, so clarification is needed. Pastor Sean has a blog – Learning to Love One Another– and for the season of Lent he is conducting a book study/conversation around the book “God Loves Justice” by Jessica Nicholas. I bet you think you can define justice. We just started, but already Ms. Nicholas has introduced some fascinating points about the word justice, the concept of social justice, and the history that underlies our modern definition of both.

I guess what I am trying to say is you can scream peace at the top of your lungs, but your word “peace” has no real value if you personally create conflict. You can wave a banner that claims your “right” to something, but are you entitled to rights if you don’t honor the rights of others? It’s more complicated than just the words you use. As much as we would like to be able to say something and make it so, words will fail us without action to back them up. Many don’t want to take the time required to make a difference in our community or the world as a whole. Few people invest the time to research or to understand why and how things came to be.

As you go through the weeks leading to Easter, I encourage you to look at some of the strong words you use. Maybe tackle a bit of dictionary use to be sure the word means what you think. Or better yet consider your actions, attitudes, and ambitions. How do they reflect who you really are and what you want for this world? Because when words fail you, and at times they will, you will be known by and remembered for your actions.

Be humble, be grateful, and be love in our world this week! :o) Linda