DEMOLITION RENDITION
One of the most amazing things to see is a building being blown up. Now, I don't mean a building that is blown up in a war, or in some tragic act of terrorism, or accident. The Oklahoma bombing, for instance, wasn't amazing, it was sick. The kind of blowing up I am referring has nothing to do with pain or suffering, or loss of life. It's the kind that's planned as a quick way to drop a building. Demolition experts have found that when an explosive charge is placed in the just the right spot, and in just the right amount, the building implodes leaving all surrounding structures intact. It truly is amazing to see! It's poetic, artistic, a ballet of brick, mortar and dust. Buildings that took perhaps the better part of a year to build can be destroyed in a matter of seconds. What took a tremendous amount of machinery, manpower, and time can be erased with a correctly placed charge of explosives. There's something very satisfying to me in this feat of blast and buckle.
A couple of years ago, one of the most visible landmarks in Saint John was blown up real good, on New Year's Eve. It was an old hospital that had been built in 1940's Art Deco style. It was really quite impressive as it sat on top a hill in the middle of the city where everyone could see it. Well, a new regional hospital and repair and heating costs got the better of this baby, so down she went! Massive crowds gathered and all the media were there. In fact there was even a video of the blast available for a few month afterwards. Last week, I saw a similar site on the news. Someone blew up a building in Jacksonville, Florida, I believe. What a pretty site!
What is it about destruction that makes it more fun than building? I remember helping a buddy renovate an older home that he bought in Toronto. We had to rip out the ceiling in the living room. What fun! Much more fun, in fact, then putting up the new one! I believe it is human nature to be more attracted to the negative rather than the positive. To enjoy tearing things down rather than building them up. I mean, haven't you ever had the urge to kick in a sand castle, to fill in an anthill, or even pull the wings off a fly, or the legs off a spider? Ok, I admit it. Yes, I have done all these things in the misspent days of my childhood.
Not only did I destroy things, I also enjoyed taking them apart. Oh, the joy of seeing inside clocks, pens, watches, toys, and radios. The list was endless. Unfortunately, the list of those things that were successfully put back together was significantly smaller. I guess that one of the problems with this urge to take apart is this: It's easier to dismantle than it is to mantle. Another problem is that sometimes we don't limit this urge to kick down, or take apart to objects and things. Many a self-image, many a relationship, many an accomplishment has been destroyed by this urge to demolish.
Perhaps the greatest danger, and the greatest temptation is in the area of communication. Speech is a wonderful gift from God. It is one of the qualities we have far in advance of any other creature. I believe it is at least part of what it means to be created in the image of God. We have been given the ability to communicate because it is God's nature to communicate. 6,000 years of communication from God to man, known as the Bible, assures us of this fact. But, with the power to communicate also come the responsibility to communicate in a way that builds rather than destroys.
James tells us, "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check" (Jam 3:2). Think about that for a second. James tells us that if we were able to never be at fault in our speech - if we never told a lie, if we were never misleading, never hurtful, never gossiped, never sarcastic in the things that we say, we would also be perfect in every other area of our lives! Why? Because the path of least resistance for our imperfection leaks directly out of our mouths! Jesus put it a little more bluntly when he was speaking to the Pharisees. He said, "You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks"( Matt 12:34).
"For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." Ah, that's the problem. We often speak from our hearts before our minds are able to kick in. Have you ever said anything that you regretted later? I know, dumb question, right? Hey, watch what you're saying, ok? The Jews believed that once a word was spoken it had a life of it's own. So it could not be taken back, nor could it be killed. True, isn't it? Oh, we may make amends for the things we say to one another, and all may be forgiven, but the scars remain.
What do we need to understand about
our penchant toward the destructive tongue?
First, remember that the person you are talking to is a person created in the image of God. Furthermore, they are a person whom Jesus died for; a person whom God loves deeply. Going back to James we read, "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be." (Jam 3:9-10). Bottom line is that there are times when we anger others and times when others anger us, but we need to keep our mind in gear and realize that we are communicating with someone who is loved by God. Therefore we must always show respect, gentleness, and self-control in our conversations.
Which brings me to the second point - if your anger isn't in control, then it follows that neither is your tongue. So, take a walk, hug a tree, chew on a pillow, tread water for a hour or two, then when you have thought and prayed and calmed down, address the issue in a loving, concerned manner.
I can handle the fact that I have a few radios around that never got put back together, and if I hadn't kicked in that sand castle, someone else's foot, or the wind and waves, would have. But I hate the fact that I am also responsible for some kicked-in feelings, and some broken hearts because I brought some careless words to life, especially when I could have said them in a way that was helpful and encouraging. What about you?
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of communication. Thank you that we are able to say "I love you", that we can make our children smile with glee, and that we are able to proclaim the Good News of the Gospel. Help us not to use this gift in a damaging way. Forgive us when we do. We await that day when only praises will issue forth from our lips! Amen.
