-Ralph Waldo Emerson
I've always loved Emerson. And this simple "actions speak louder than words" quote has always hit my ear in an interesting way. But lately, it's been more of a question than a witty accusation...
Is who I am speaking so loudly that what I say doesn't even matter?
...What about you?
A few examples...
These Christians showed up at a Chicago Pride Parade, not to protest and spread hate, but to apologize - and not for the way homosexuals in general are treated, but for things they themselves had done. The man hugging them? Well, duh-- obviously, he's a float dancer! (I had no clue either... except that he was probbbably part of the parade... I had to read a few articles.) I was stunned by the humility in these Christian people's actions... what words are harder to say than "I am sorry" and "I was wrong," unless it's all those words together? But I was equally, if not more, impressed by the man - who has probably felt the sting of misguided hatred more than I could ever imagine, but threw it all aside and ran to love on these new supporters. (By the way, the main man in that probably-sweaty squeeze is a pastor, who blogged about this great experience and keeps in touch with the float dancer through email.)
And no, this isn't a comment on what the Bible says about homosexuality. (Then again, Jesus didn't exactly put caveats in His word when he was chilling with "thieves" and "prostitutes"...) It is only a comment on what Jesus said about LOVE.
This is a simple note left to me by an amazing friend. Yes, it's silly - and that is the point! This gal spreads happiness wherever she goes. She left this on my car on a day when it was below freezing, windy as heck, and just straight nasty. And that definitely counts... but what counts most is that she thought beyond herself. She cared to make someone's day better. She saw my car there, she thought of me, and she instantly went to thinking about something that would make me smile - and that wasn't the only time! I can tell you from my heart, this young lady has no hateful or hurtful words to say - but, if she did, everyone would just giggle at them... who she is speaks SO strongly, those words would just come out as squeaks!
I'm sure there is a much-more-worthy pic for this one, but I've put it on my body for a reason. If you don't know, that is half of Proverbs 31:25.... (Sorry, Mom.... I really am!) This chapter makes me take pride in being a woman, but humbles me in many ways... I have this tattoo because I believe in what was put forward in that chapter - but is what I'm "saying" with it somehow a substitute for who I should be? This chapter describes a woman who wakes early, before all her family, to provide for them (I literally debate the necessity of brushing my hair in the morning, hoping for an extra ten seconds in bed)... She opens her arms to the poor (As I selfishly consider myself to need more)... She works hard, with strong arms (While I whine about having a "tough week")... She makes sound and well-thought-out financial decisions (As I DIE for the one day every week I spend $4.50 on Drip coffee!)... Most importantly, "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come."
I have never "laughed at the days to come."
I worry.
I have never had such faith and such an unfailingly beautiful view of life that I knew that whatever the days brought, they would be good.
Proverbs 31 wasn't written by a woman about how amazing she was. She didn't sing her own humility, her work ethic, her faith, her love for those around her, or her strength. This chapter doesn't begin with "She says: ..." This is an outside perception, what another around her saw and realized as who she was. You don't hear what she says... because, simply put, who she was spoke so loudly, no one could hear what she was saying.
(BTW, it has been thought to be Solomon who penned this, but was probably another, less-known man... most importantly, whoever held the pen, this chapter was God-inspired - which means this is what God saw her to be.)
Maybe it will always be a goal - something like perfection, always strived for but never reached. I'm not sure, but I'm hoping that at least tomorrow, "who i am" speaks louder.
