After I returned home from worship on Sunday, I learned of a real tragedy that had occurred.
Berlin was hosting the largest Pride parade in Europe on Saturday. A person intentionally drove
a van into the crowd. When the van collided with a tree, the person jumped out wielding a
machete and attacked a number of people. In a confrontation with the police, the perpetrator
was killed.
My first reaction was shock. Any time I hear of such violence, my reaction is shock and horror.
On closer examination, my shock has turned to dismay. Quite honestly, my dismay has
morphed into anger. I’m angry because senseless violence continues to occur. Violence
directed at the LGBTQ+ community has begun to be more commonplace. The rise of divisive
rhetoric and polarizing politics has spurred much of this to take place.
You’re old enough to remember the old children’s mantra…”Sticks and stones may break my
bones, but words will never hurt me.” Its cute and easy to remember, and even easier to roll off
our tongues. But the truth is, words matter. The words we choose to use to describe people
other than ourselves, matters. Our words can lift up, heal, tear down or harm others.
There are several scriptures that come to mind when dealing with the power of our words.
Proverbs 12:18 says…”Rash words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings
healing.” Further on in Proverbs 18:21 we read…”Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.” But James 3:5-6 says it plainly…”The tongue is a small
part of the body that boasts great things, yet it can set a whole forest on fire like a small spark.”
All of these aforementioned scriptures get right to the heart of it, what we say matters.
The LGBTQ+ community, in particular, have fought long and hard to win simple human rights;
like who they choose to love and marry, where they can live and work, and most importantly to
be free from the fear of attack and violence because of their orientation. Now we seem to have
entered a period of time where there is an uptick of rhetoric and even attempts to whittle away
at those long fought for and won rights.
All of this starts with words. Words matter more than we know, and they are used to incite
violence against the marginalized in our society. So, yes I’m shocked. Yes, I’m dismayed. But
I’m also angry.
I’ve heard it said you shouldn’t make decisions while in the midst of anger, so I’ve sat with this
for awhile. I know words matter, and so I try my best to choose them wisely before speaking.
Here’s what I want to say though, just STOP it! Can we all agree to live and let live? Can we
all agree to treat others the way we are treated by the One who created us? Can we all agree
to speak words of love, compassion, grace, mercy, healing and encouragement?
My momma always said “if you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all.” Lots of
wisdom packed into that saying. I may not agree with something that confronts me, but is it
important to bark off a response just to have something to say? Or might it be better to wait
until I can say something constructive, something which considers all points of view, something
kind in nature? When I start to open my mouth, I harken back to something the ancient poet
Rumi said. Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates…”Is it true? Is it
necessary? Is it kind?
How much would our world be improved if we all passed our words through those three gates
before speaking? In a time and place where we acknowledge words matter, as a society, we
can find ways to come together and live together when we carefully consider what we say
before saying it.
In the upheaval of the 1960’s there was a Catholic priest who wrote a hymn while serving his
parish on the South side of Chicago. The hymn states…”They will know we are Christians by
our love.” Our love for others will be shown by what we say and do. The words we choose will
matter. Peter Scholtes wrote…”We will work with each other, we will work side by side. And
we’ll guard each one’s dignity and save each one’s pride. And they’ll know we are Christians by
our love.”
My heart goes out to all those in Berlin who have endured this most recent tragedy. I pray that
peace and calm will come. I pray that all will be safe and the diversity of the community will be
seen as a wonderful image to lift up. As John F. Kennedy said at the Berlin Wall, I say now and
mean every word…”Ich bin ein Berliner.” All who stand with those affected in this atrocity say
the same. We are all affected by these actions. We are all a part of a whole, what affects one,
affects all.
Because I know words matter, I say to each of us, let us speak to uplift people and not tear them
down. Let us speak with an intention to heal and not harm. Let us speak so that all will
perceive the love in our words and know we follow in the steps of Jesus who calls each of us to
love beyond measure.
Your companion on the Way,
Pastor Tom