In our words are our ideas...

When the path isn't clear we must fall back on our compassion and empathy to lead us away from harm. ~EAB

I believe that words are not just words. I believe that they are the method for which we convey our ideas and ideas are powerful for they are the basis of our rationalization to act the way we do. I believe that we should never dismiss words as just words because they hold more power than we could ever imagine to change the world for better or for worse. Nazism started as words, that inspired an idea, that incited violence against a group of people. Ideas are powerful forces which constitute our beliefs and provide reason to our actions and ideas begin as words.

We communicate with words to convey our feelings, sentiments and emotions. To find those that agree and disagree with us. To connect and build community and sometimes to destroy it. We need to test our ideas, measure them against the principles of human compassion and empathy and if they are rooted in feelings of hate, I encourage us to let them go. Ideas rooted in our feelings of hate only serve to divide us. If we are divided our ability to find empathy with one another is compromised and in that compromise grows a space where horrible actions can occur justified by our anger and hate. It is because of this danger that words are never just words.

Words are our ideas, they are our beliefs and we should choose them carefully so that we do not provide reasons to divide ourselves. The more we are divided the more space there is for hate and violence. So I ask you to think of what world you want to live in, one where division and hate become stronger or one where we live by histories lessons and learn from our divisive mistakes.

​First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew.
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Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

--Pastor Martin Niemoller

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