"To be kind is more important than to be right. Many times, what people need is not a brilliant mind that speaks but a special heart that listens."

~ F. Scott Fitzgerald

One of the earliest memories I have of my grandfather took place one evening as I was standing in the space between our living room and kitchen. As I peered into the kitchen, I could see my grandfather seated at one end of the dinner table and my dad seated at the other. What caught my attention was the fact that they were yelling at one another. Usually any yelling in the house took place between my brother and I but this yellfest was taking place during the heart of the Watergate scandal. My dad was a Goldwater Republican and my grandfather was an FDR Democrat. I was all of about six or seven years old at the time and here they were yelling at one another about if Nixon was guilty as charged. I don’t remember the outcome of the argument as I’m sure they eventually made up. But that memory has left an indelible mark on my life.

There is a lot of yelling these days isn’t there. Taking just a casual glance at the nightly news or briefly surf social media, you will find no shortage of people yelling at one another. Bullhorns, signs, and social media platforms all make for giant megaphones. This loud proclaiming of one’s opinion, nowadays is done in such a way as to drown out other voices. Everyone wants to make sure that their voice is heard. It’s ok to make sure that one gets their point across, but I like what author Cathy Burnham Martin says,

“Some people believe that if they yell and scream, others will get the point of just how serious they are. For me, all I get is the point of just how out of control that someone is.”

In spite of the daily bellowing that roars across our airwaves, I believe there is still hope for civil discourse. It would do us us all good to remember the words of James the brother of Jesus:

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” James 1:9

Author and Pastor Mark Batterson was a special guest at our most recent church service, and he mentioned, “I’m not sure anyone wins a shouting match.”

So true. Let us all be mindful of the words we use and how we use them.