Words get in THE WAY…another perspective

Words; both an obstacle and an opening. My last post was about the inadequacy of one of my favorite resources; words.  I wrote of what they cannot convey and the limitation of trying to transmit certain realities with syllables.  But I feel a bit like I have been critical of one of my best friends.  I love words.  They can have great power.  Wielded correctly they can change lives and partner with the transforming presence of God.  When you exhale over your vocal chords, God can add His breath to your words and transform the very atmosphere of a room.

Sometimes I sense something stirring inside me and I reach into this treasure chest of word choices, trying on several before actually settling on the best combination.   Ideas that seem bigger than words can actually be broken down bit by bit and shared until whole concepts are shared by a friend, or a roomful of people.  How much fun is that?

Words can assure, or terrify,they can heal,or wound, they can clarify thoughts or confuse a matter.  Let’s be fair, they are inadequate to accomplish what only the presence of God can accomplish, but they are great tools to lob back and forth while we wrestle with the great experiences and meanings of life and its moments.

I remember a particular counseling session where the woman in front of me was in great pain as her circumstances were collapsing around her, and were outside of her control.  I sensed the swirling and growing presence of God in the room, and felt deeply that He wanted to do something very powerful for her.  Something so powerful that I felt inadequate to do what I was sensing.   I sat paralyzed for a moment by her need, and God’s manifest presence.  Then I heard, sensed, grew in awareness of, this thought:

“Just open your mouth”

It was almost urgent.  Like God was saying, “I am waiting on YOU!”

“I don’t know what to say” I thought.

Here is what I heard. “Just open your mouth, I will do the rest.”

So I began to speak.  Lame stuff, I think.  I tried to be inspiring, but it was just words.  In amazement I watched as her heart opened and healing began.  I was not very clever, nor persuasive, but God had waited on my meager utterings before He delivered.  The inadequacy of my words partnered with the absolute sufficiency of God and something happened that was bigger than me.

I love words.