Do you remember the old story about a man who has been gossiping, saying critical things about people in his church and in his neighborhood? His pastor calls him and says, “I’d like for you to come and talk to me tomorrow. Bring a feather pillow with you.” When the man comes the pastor talks to him about the hurt that gossip can cause. Then he takes him up to a second story in the church building, opens a window, takes the feather pillow the man has brought, cuts it open and dumps all the feathers out into the breeze.
“Now,” says the pastor, “Go pick up all those feathers and put them back in this pillow case.”
“I can’t do that,” says the man. “The feathers have scattered so far and wide, gathering them up would be impossible.”
The pastor looks into the eyes of his church member and says, “It is the same with the words you have spoken about others.”
James is blunt on the importance of our words. ‘If anyone appears to be “religious” but cannot control his tongue, he deceives himself and we may be sure that his religion is useless.’ (James 1:26 Phillips)
At the same time, words are powerful to bless and build up. Henri Nouwen reminds of that. ‘Often we remain silent when we need to speak. Without words, it is hard to love well. When we say to our parents, children, lovers, or friends: "I love you very much" or "I care for you" or "I think of you often" or "You are my greatest gift," we choose to give life.’
