This past weekend I attended a CS Lewis writing conference in Colorado Springs, held at picturesque Glen Eyrie for which there are no words. The conference, entitled "Shepherding Words," was all about the importance of words, especially to those of us who are writers or who aspire to be.
Writers of all shapes, sizes, ages and genres showed up -- around 200 people! I have been a writer, in one form or another, for nearly my entire life, but this was the first conference I had ever attended. I picked a doozy!
First, most, if not all of the attendees, are devotees of Lewis. Having read four of his books, I would place myself in that category. But if understanding his books is a qualification? I'm afraid I will have to bow out. I am not the type of book reader to gleefully read a paragraph nine or ten times until I understand it. I simply don't have time for that, especially on my quest to read 50 books this year. But the way he uses words and the thoughts that he thinks are mind-blowing. I call him my "spiritual crush," borrowed from another author that was not at the conference.
Songwriters, authors, poets, and then some shared deep words with us, making many of us cry, even sob, more than once. The mere use of words can bring the best of us to tears. And there were many eloquent ones shared.
More than that, we were challenged to use our words, in whatever form we write or speak, to bring beauty and life to others, the people we may shepherd, our lambs. Pastors are not the only people who shepherd: we can all take a stab at it if we but would. As I think of the word "lambs," right now I can think of many in my life who this word describes, including my perfect and precious granddaughters, Charlotte and Amelia.
One poet talked about the overuse of the word "awesome" after said poet gave an employee at a store exact change. "Awesome!" she exclaimed. Which caused him to pause and think; which caused me to do the same. I thought about the number of times in a given day, let alone a week or month, that I use this word. Correction: used this word.
The definition is: "Something so impressive or overwhelming that it inspires a deep reverence, admiration or even fear."
Ouch.
Today, when I began to say it, I thought twice, texting "incredible" instead.
Lately I have been profoundly convicted of the way I use words, mostly in conversation with others. This has been on my heart for months, actually. Over the past many years, God has been pruning me, shaping me, showing me all of the ways I need to change. It has been painful, yet beautiful, at the same time. The fact that He will not leave me alone tells me a lot about His great, enduring love for me. He cherishes me enough to not leave me where I am.
Years ago, I thought the best thing I could do was live out my true-to-life, passionate, Italian self. If others didn't like it, so be it. It was who I am. Now I am aware that just because I can say something definitely does not mean I should. And that goes for most of what is said on social media.
Our words have great power. To build up or to destroy. Consider this: "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:36-37 NASB.
Double ouch.
Every.Careless.Word.
There have been times I have wielded words like a kitchen knife, slicing through the air with the intent to land on its (my) prey. I don't want to do that anymore. Ever. And it's so easy to do, when hiding behind a computer screen or cell phone. Isn't it? Or when I feel justified? Or hurt? Or angry.
Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.
Jesus is the Word and he breathed life into all of creation, along with God and the Holy Spirit, when the Earth was formless and void and nothingness. Elohim is the word for God that means Creator. It is in the plural, and it is all over the book of Genesis.
Adam, the very first human, was told to name the animals and tend the garden. I wish I could have been there to name them all; cat would have been the first animal I named, with bunny as a close second. Rabbit would have never been in our vocabulary if I had been present. What a glorious job that must have been!
Words have been with us from the beginning, and we were created to use them for His purpose and glory. Am I? Are you? Are we?
How truly awesome it would be if we could learn this great truth.