COMMON-SENSE VOCABULARY

Words have meaning. Sounds like a “duh” kinda thing to say but bear with me. Often when chatting with a student or in casual conversation with a friend or acquaintance a statement is tossed out that, though at first blush seems harmless, could be challenged. Word of caution here: pick your spots. Most conversations won’t stand up to close examination and if we start picking apart everything, soon it won’t be a problem because we will only be talking to ourselves, which could be a problem. There are times however when jumping the shark is required, typically when speaking about God. Typical comments are usually something like: “God is loving but uses pain to teach us” or “God isn’t interested in the small things in life” or “All prayers are answered, just sometimes the answer is no.” In order: God does not use or even authorize pain and suffering. Pain and suffering comes from either an action we have taken or we have been caught up in someone else’s drama, remember everything is connected. As we now understand “we reap as we sow.” Physical ailments and such are part of the wheel, this flesh in its current configuration wears out is a variety of ways, the soul eternal. The rain falls on the just and the unjust equally, remember natural law. Of course he is interested in the small things for He is “closer that hands and feet” and that is most close indeed. All prayers are answered in the affirmative. Period. The problem is in what we pray for given our limited spiritual vision and understanding. God will provide what we need, but never anything that will harm us. If your child asked for food would you give them a stone? A deadly snake for a toy? Poison instead of water? Is not the true relationship between man and God summed up in the first two words of the Lord’s Prayer: “Our Father”? We consider what issues from our lips, do we really believe it or is it just something that sounds pleasant and perhaps is meant to be reassuring, just not thought through. When others speak exercise patience, tolerance, kindness and love before “correcting” or attempting to “explain” a spiritual concept they may be ill informed on. Most often these will be opportunities for us to exercise patience, tolerance and restraint of tongue, then to pray for them later when alone. Occasionally we will be called on to stand up and address a comment straight on, if that be the case always say a silent prayer before engaging tongue to be shown by divine wisdom what to say and how to say it, opening ourselves to be a channel of the truth, delivered with a feather, not a cudgel.