The power of the tongue

Around 10 days ago Sue and I celebrated our 32nd wedding anniversary (where do all the years go!). We don't tend to make a big deal of our wedding anniversaries, but it is certainly something to celebrate. I bought Sue a bunch of flowers (that gave her a shock!) and she bought me a book of funny football sayings. Here are just a few examples:

'I would not be bothered if we lost every game as long as we won the league.' - Mark Viduka

‘I had a lump in my mouth as the ball went in' - Terry Venables

‘I was quite surprised and delighted to take the armband for both legs.' - Gary O’Neil

'I can see the carrot at the end of the tunnel.' - Stuart Pearce

'I couldn't settle in Italy - it was like living in a foreign country.' - Ian Rush

'I was really surprised when the FA knocked on my doorbell.' - Michael Owen

‘The important thing is that he shook hands with us over the phone' - Alan Ball

'My parents have been there for me, ever since I was about 7.' - David Beckham

It's so easy, of course, to say something without thinking, and then immediately regret what has been said. The above examples are quite funny, and maybe, looking back, the people concerned were a little embarrassed. But sometimes our words can have far more regrettable consequences.

There was a saying around when I was a young lad, "sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me." What a load of rubbish! Words can be incredibly hurtful. James, writing his New Testament letter, warns, "If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless."

I guess that all of us can remember times when we have said something and instantly regretted it. The sobering thing is that once the words have come out they can never be taken back.

The tongue is only a relatively small part of the body, but it has a potential influence (for good or evil) far beyond its size. How much better the world would be if we human beings tried harder to control our tongues!

Naked we come and naked we go

I remember some years ago hearing evangelist J John speaking about a family funeral which he had attended. As the family and other mourners gathered together after the funeral service, one person was heard to whisper "I wonder how much he left." "Everything!" was J John's immediate response! The biblical book of Ecclesiastes chapter 5 verse 15 reads as follows: 'We all come to the end of our lives as naked and empty-handed as on the day we were born. We can't take our riches with us.'

I have mentioned before on my blog that I have for some time been an eBay user. I have bought and sold quite a few things over the years. I particularly enjoy old books, but on occasions I come across other interesting items. I wonder if you recognise the person in the image? A few days ago I happened to come across an eBay seller who was selling quite a number of items which used to belong to the late Mo Mowlam MP (the image is of an oil painting of Mo). It appears that when Mo's husband died (subsequent to her own death), the eBay seller purchased some items from the estate, and decided to list them on eBay. There were some fascinating items, and they attracted quite a lot of bidding.

Some may think it a bit morbid to be buying items from a dead person's estate! It certainly got me thinking about the reality of the verse from Ecclesiastes. The truth is that all the material possessions we might accumulate in this life are ours on a purely temporary basis. All the things we regard as "ours", we will one day have to leave behind. We would be wiser regarding ourselves as temporary stewards of what we have rather than permanent owners.

When Mo Mowlam died, she had to leave behind all her possessions, which included many items related to her period serving in the Northern Ireland Office. She appears to have been a significant figure during the lead up to the Good Friday Agreement. In early 1998, when negotiations in Northern Ireland had reached an impasse, Mowlam took a significant political risk. She entered the Maze Prison near Belfast, to speak to convicted Irish paramilitaries face-to-face, when it became apparent that the peace process required their backing. Following her visit with the prisoners, their political representatives announced they were rejoining the talks. Shortly after, the Good Friday Agreement for Ireland was secured on 10 April 1998.

I am sure that all the awards and presentations meant a great deal to her when she received them. But what do they mean to her now? In other words, what is it that matters ETERNALLY? Ultimately what matters is our relationship with God, for that transcends earthly life. That's why God sent Jesus, so that through Jesus we might know God, now and into eternity.

Unique and known by God

At Priory, which is my town centre church, we have something called Restawhile. It has been going for many years, since long before I arrived in Doncaster. On market day mornings the church is open to serve tea and coffee. It is a service offered to anyone who is out and about in the town centre. Restawhile has proved to be very popular, and attracts folk from around South Yorkshire and even further afield. Over the course of an average year over 20,000 cups of tea or coffee are served (and that’s a lot of washing up!)

Just as important as the actual serving of light refreshments is the opportunity Restawhile provides for social interaction. Quite a number of Restawhile regulars meet up and spend time with friends over a cuppa. The Restawhile volunteers, who serve the tea and coffee, get to know the regulars and build up relationships with them over time. Trying to be welcoming and friendly is very much a part of the Restawhile philosophy.

Whenever I have opportunity I like to pop in to Restawhile and have a chat with some of the customers. It gives me the opportunity of meeting and getting to know some of the folk who come onto our premises. A few days ago I had a fascinating conversation with one lady who I had known for some time. During the course of the conversation she told me something about her family history; how her family had lost almost everything in the great depression, and how as a girl she was brought up by a single mum with very little by way of material comforts.

The story continued into her adult life, marriage, childbearing, bereavement, and on to her grandson who has behavioural difficulties. I was fascinated by this lady’s story, and suggested that she write her biography! It is unlikely that she will do so, which is a shame because life stories like hers would, I am sure, be of interest to many.

As I later reflected on that conversion, into my mind came the thought that EVERY human being has their own unique story to tell. Indeed, every human being is God’s unique creation, created by him and in his image. In God’s sight every human being is special and precious, and every human life is of value. How easily we group people together: “the elderly”, “the disabled”, “the French” etc., when in reality every group is made up of individuals.

I was interested to hear of Virgin Money’s plans to create new high street banks in the traditional style, where customers are treated as individuals (not numbers!) and are able to know and be known by their bank manager. I guess that many people will appreciate this new/old approach. But isn’t it wonderful that Almighty God, who created all things, knows each one of us intimately, treats us as individuals, and longs that we might know and love him?