Thought for the Week

Why are we so afraid to talk openly and honestly?

Recently I have thought much about the impact of gossip.

I have been in a position to see firsthand the damage and stress it can cause.

Why do we have so much to say behind someone’s back, but so little to say to their face?

Why do we choose to believe everything we are told?

In the Bible it states “a dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends” - Proverbs 16:28

We have all this communication at our finger tips and we don’t use it properly.

We appear to be frightened of conversation, of using a phone to speak to someone.

We want to talk about people, but not to them. Why? Are we frightened, frightened of people seeing who we really are?

Or perhaps we are afraid of showing weakness or of being let down?

Is that why we have become so good at pointing out other peoples faults and ignoring our own?

Perhaps this is why sometimes we appear to take delight in telling others when someone else has made a mistake, rather than offering a listening ear or a helping hand.

We all fall and at those times we need to be able to reach out and be supported and to trust. That is how we recover. So why not this week put your energy in getting to know someone for yourself, open your eyes and ears, and close your mouth.

Be the helping hand and see what a difference that makes.