Blogs

I do not like blogs.  You may think that is hypocritical since I am writing on this blog, but let me explain.  The journalist in me has always liked to know what others think.  I love a good discussion, whether it is at church, at the job, with friends or family.  I love to hear what other people think.  I have had some very spirited conversations with my friends.  We always do not see all things alike, and that is okay.  It gives me the opportunity to look at things from someone else's perspective, and hopefully they feel the same.  We never walk away from each other angry, and because we are friends, we know we can be open and honest, and we will be loved and accepted.

Since I like to see what others are thinking about things happening in our culture, if I am on the Dallas Morning News web site, or Fox News, or anyother site, I will often look at the comments just to see what others think.  For the last six months, this has become more and more discouraging.  On most blogs, people are not using their real names.  The things that some of these people say are down right disgusting.  They are really not contributing any useful comments or information.  It's usually a tirade against a person, organization, or group.  I have asked myself many times, "When did we as a people become so mean spirited?  Would people say these things if they were not cloaked under anonymity?"  I personally don't think they would say these denigrating remarks to someone's face.  Needless to say, it has driven me away from looking  at these comments. 

Some people will throw the First Amendment out that they have the right to speak, but just because a person has a right, they do not have to exercise it. Words should be taken with deep regard and with wisdom and discernment. 

One of the scariest verses in the Bible is Matt. 12:36.  "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken."  I have said a lot of careless words in my life.  I didn't think before I spoke.  As I live this year, I want to be very careful of what comes out of my mouth.  I want to think before I speak.  I want to ask myself, "Is this encouraging or discouraging?  Will this build someone up, or will it tear them down?" 

Our words are so important, and once they are out there, you cannot bring them back.  My favorite American woman poet is Emily Dickinson.  She wrote a little poem:  "A word is dead when said some say.  I say it just begins to live that day."  All of us have had things said to us that we have never forgotten.  Some have been wonderful and kind things, but we all remember those terribly ugly things said too.  Words have the power to slice us to our deepest part.

I cannot control the people who comment on blogs, but I can control whether I choose to read them or not.  With one year to live, I am really not too interested in what strangers have to say.  I just want to make sure that what comes out of my mouth only builds up and encourages.

Peace,