Consider the impact of your words

During some wedding ceremonies, I often say something to the effect that the bride and groom have exchanged their vows and commitment of love for each, but that words are fleeting and soon forgotten, so the wedding rings become the symbols of those vows and commitment. And we probably could not count the number of times during a day that the ring catches our attention and reminds us of those important words that we have spoken.

There is enormous power in words and the meanings we have assigned to them, not only by the person speaking, but also by those who hear them.

In this day of instant messaging, emails, seeing news on television as it is happening, etc., we know how words affect us. It is more difficult to determine the sincerity of the written words because we don't hear the inflection in voices, and sometimes may erroneously interpret the spirit of what is being said. And we can't always trust the written words ascribed to us to be true because they must be filtered through the minds of those who report the words, and may end up with a certain bias.

Some with fertile minds may be wondering the reason I have chosen this topic this week. Its not that I have a sinister motive, but I have been thinking of the power of words as I read the "Letters to the Editor," the many words spoken about politi- cians, as well as about people in positions of leadership and those who are powerless in our society. Some words have often had results their users never intended or planned ... they were simply spoken without much thought, and instantly had their effect.

Perhaps I have just felt the necessity to encourage us to consider the words we use - the effect they will have on others, as well as ourselves.

With that I will close this little essay knowing that it consists of 1513 characters, 331 words, 11 sentences, and 24 lines.