Anyone who has traveled with me and Brent knows about our relentless pursuit of a good story.
For your consideration, I give you:
Brent and I try really hard not to take ourselves or others too seriously.
We love to laugh.
We enjoy tag-teaming a story.
Neither of us is half as funny telling the same story alone.
In fact, I'm not funny AT ALL without him around.
I'm kind of a curmudgeon.
But that's just an excuse.
Because I hurt someone with one of my stories this week and I am horrified.
I can come up with lots of excuses. But I won't. Because excuses mean nothing when you've hurt a friend.
It does bring to mind many things today, however.
How much of this am I guilty of? (too much)
How many times have I told a story centering on another person and laughing at their expense? (too many)
Does the fact that I make fun of myself and Brent ruthlessly negate the fact that another person might not appreciate it when they are the subject? (nope)
How many times am I complicit in a conversation, not because of something I said, but because I didn't defend the person from someone else? (oh wow.)
How very, very easy it can be to wound another with our words. And in some cases, our lack of them.
I don't know how to proceed from here.
I can tell myself that I'm not going to talk anymore....but I will.
I can promise that next time a person isn't present to defend themselves if they come up in conversation, I will defend them....but I might not.
I can tell myself that when I talk I will only edify others....but will I?
"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."
I can claim that I was not "cursing" but tell that to the person who received it as a curse.
And to the other 30 who were involved in stories that didn't call me on it.
Forgive me, my friend.
I am sickened by my thoughtlessness.
For your consideration, I give you:
 |
| Brent telling the story of the "cat vomit" abdominal exercise and demonstrating it on the beaches of Eilat. |
 | |
| Our participation in Jordanian TV propaganda. ("We love Jordan!") And the demonstration of the MC Hammer dance on the way down from the sacrificial high place. "We call you 'Smooth Hammer!'" |
 |
| Making sure we swam in every body of water in Israel, and having hypothermia to show for it. |
 |
| Seriously? Doesn't this speak for itself? As does "Stars and Bucks" coffee shop and the Cana Wine company. |
 |
| The funeral at Bethlehem that we thought was staged....and wasn't. |
 |
| Being yelled at by the Orthodox priest. "SHUT UP!" |
 | |
| You can't see it, but this is one of those "Peaceful protests.....Like in Egypt." | "I hope you enjoyed what we did to you." |
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| Being "Nekked" at the Western Wall. |
 |
| And the Easter Ostrich. $30 I paid for this Kitchy thing because it made me laugh so hard I thought I would pee my pants. |
We love to laugh.
We enjoy tag-teaming a story.
Neither of us is half as funny telling the same story alone.
In fact, I'm not funny AT ALL without him around.
I'm kind of a curmudgeon.
But that's just an excuse.
Because I hurt someone with one of my stories this week and I am horrified.
I can come up with lots of excuses. But I won't. Because excuses mean nothing when you've hurt a friend.
It does bring to mind many things today, however.
How much of this am I guilty of? (too much)
How many times have I told a story centering on another person and laughing at their expense? (too many)
Does the fact that I make fun of myself and Brent ruthlessly negate the fact that another person might not appreciate it when they are the subject? (nope)
How many times am I complicit in a conversation, not because of something I said, but because I didn't defend the person from someone else? (oh wow.)
How very, very easy it can be to wound another with our words. And in some cases, our lack of them.
I don't know how to proceed from here.
I can tell myself that I'm not going to talk anymore....but I will.
I can promise that next time a person isn't present to defend themselves if they come up in conversation, I will defend them....but I might not.
I can tell myself that when I talk I will only edify others....but will I?
"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."
I can claim that I was not "cursing" but tell that to the person who received it as a curse.
And to the other 30 who were involved in stories that didn't call me on it.
Forgive me, my friend.
I am sickened by my thoughtlessness.
1 comment:
Ouch! I think you just trampled my toes. But then, they shouldn't have been there. I will pray for you, if you promise to pray for me since we seem to share this same bad habit. ((HUGS))
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