Life and Death reside in the power of the tongue. Words, mere words, can be an oasis of hope and simultaneously can be considered a weapon, “a flame of fire”.
The passing of Nelson Mandela has been front and center in the news. I am neither pro-Mandela nor anti-Mandela. I am a casual observer, never really following his rise to leadership in South Africa.
My introduction to him came in the 2009 movie, Invictus. Great movie! If you have a chance to watch it will be worth your time.
Getting back to the power of words, here are a few sound bites from the movie on reconciliation or its twin sister, forgiveness:
- Reconciliation starts here.
- Forgiveness also starts here.
- Forgiveness liberates the soul.
- Forgiveness removes fear.
- Forgiveness is a powerful weapon.
Webster’s dictionary puts it like this – “to bring into agreement or harmony; to restore; to win over to friendliness”.
We’re smack dab in the middle of the Christmas season.
- Shopping abounds.
- The pace has increased.
- Lights and ornaments decorate our trees.
- Families and friends will soon gather.
- Presents overflow our living rooms.
- The menu is being pondered and before too long will be served.
- Celebrations are being planned.
Taking center stage, or at least should be, is recalling why we celebrate in the first place. An angel, joined by a vast host of others made this declaration:
“Glory to God in the highest heaven and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
It is an offer of reconciliation ordered by divine design and wrapped in a baby lying in a manger and in swaddling clothes. The offer still stands.
It is also an invitation to extend forgiveness or reconciliation to another.
One of my early jobs was to reconcile the bank accounts for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. A monthly task to bring into balance the many checking accounts that served as vehicles to conduct the business of the government.
Are there “accounts” that you need to “bring into balance”?
- Did you have a fight with your spouse?
- Are you tanked off at the actions of your boss or a co-worker?
- Perhaps your Mom or Dad has long passed and he / she treated you with contempt or worse.
- Were you over-looked for a long awaited promotion or raise?
- What about the dude that cut you off in traffic or the lady that beat you to the punch in grabbing the last Elmo doll (or whatever the latest craze might be)?
- How about the long standing feud you have with Aunt So and So or Uncle What’s His Name?
Getting back to the movie and the heart of the Christmas message, reconciliation starts here.
With me. With you. It’s called personal accountability.
Don’t wait for the other person. Get up. Take the initiative. Do it. Today.
After all, reconciliation and forgiveness, according to Mandela “liberates the soul.”
Can you step out on the water, attempt to walk across whatever thin ice there may be, and settle the score?