Thursday, June 23, 2005

Free Silence

TODAY'S QUOTE:
A good word is an easy obligation; but not to speak ill, requires only our silence, which costs nothing. John Tillotson English prelate (1630 - 1694)

I think many things that I never say. But negative thoughts are always escorted outside as soon as possible, before they can do any damage to anyone. To judge others would invite judgment upon me and I figure God has enough to do without my bothering him with something so petty.
Silence is free and exercising it strengthens a basic bond between humans. We are all fallible and deserving of censure; looking at the faults of our fellow man through the filter of our own misdeeds makes it impossible to condemn. It just makes no sense to toss water on someone who is beside you in a leaking boat. You risk yourself as well as them with such actions.
So next time you are tempted to pick at someone else's weakness with words that will only add to the burden they might already be carrying take time to reconcider. Use the golden silence time to tend to some of your own burdens. If you refuse to set yourself up as judge and jury then other people are less likely to flip the script and do likewise.

THINK ABOUT IT
LET IT GROW
THEN DECIDE