Speak Life

Speak life

I’ve been hearing this song on the radio: Speak Life by TobyMac.

I grew up with the phrase, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” It was helpful in reigning in my words.

But it wasn’t, “Speak Life.”

I taught high school for a while and implored my students empathize with others. It may have aided them in understanding that words really can wound.

It wasn’t, “Speak Life.”

I have been married for nearly twelve years and have been a mother for almost nine. I have worked hard to craft my words to encourage and to give positive reinforcement.

Still I think it isn’t, “Speak Life.”

I’ve been listening, and my heart is encouraged.

I’ve scrolled through the FB pages of friends who are struggling. I’ve seen short quips and off-the-cuff jokes. Social media exacerbates the emotions because they are forever trapped in time. Those words are played out over, and over, and over, each time it is read.

Conversations do the same. I can replay words in my head and think about the tone and wonder about the emotion behind it – whether it is genuine, whether it was intended to be hurtful, whether the person was joking.

Speaking life takes more than restraint or empathy; it takes the desire to put life first. To want life for everyone you meet. To encourage with hope and yet, to unmask your own burdens to encourage others, is such a delicate balance.

To me, speaking life means to recognize the good – no matter what the circumstance. To look beyond the outer appearance, to use the eyes as windows to the soul, to think about each and every word you use. As the lyrics proclaim, seek out ways to “speak life to the deadest, darkest night.”

There is so much cruelty and hardship in this world. Speak life to your spouse. Speak life to your family. Speak life on social media. Speak life to your friends. Speak life to the passers-by on the street.

Speak Life.  

READ, Courage, Josh K. Stevens

“If we had to say what writing is, we would define it essentially as an act of courage.”

~Cynthia Ozick

I’ve been very busy over the last few weeks – family, work, children and homemaking have taken a priority.

But one assignment got me pretty excited - a book release! I met Josh K. Stevens about eight years ago when he was working at a local independent bookstore - Read Between the Lynes. I knew about his writing aspirations and even joined him in a writers group for a bit.

Family, children and work pulled us in separate directions, but no matter where Josh went, he always was writing. He never gave up.

So, it is with great excitement that I dedicate this blogpost to his three-book contract! Yes! In print!  He worked incredibly hard. His first book – only available on e-reader – Bullets are My Business garnered the attention of publishing house 280 Steps. When approached by them, he signed on for a trilogy following the life and crimes of Deuce Walsh, former - er, soon-to-be-current - gangster.

I am going to Stevens' release party – April 28! Book one of three, Scratch the Surface, will introduce the world to Walsh and a host of witty characters. I have pre-ordered my copy here so Josh (a daring man of his craft) can autograph it. And, I will get to listen to him read from the book – giving an audible voice to the characters that he formed. Yep, courage.

First off, let me say that it isn’t the type of book I generally would read, but it is written by a friend – and, he never gave up. He courageously kept writing and putting himself out there until his dream materialized. I don’t mind being challenged – or reading outside the box. Now, I have not read it yet; the book doesn’t even come out for two weeks, but it is an adult pulp-noir novel. So, fair warning to my readers – it may be (a lot) grittier than anything I might otherwise recommend;)

Hence this photo I took of him – deep in the heart of our sleepy little town, black capital graffiti-letters encourage passersby to read. And, I am pretty sure that refers to almost anything – a realistic gangster novel, a little old blog post, the drive-thru menu, an inspirational book or the newspaper.

Every person who puts pen to paper (or fingertips to keys, as it were) courageously shares a bit of his soul.

So, some sage advice for all of us:

Read. Appreciate. Be thankful for those who dare to speak the written word.

Triduum

Triduum began tonight, and I am so thankful that we walk with Jesus over the next three days.

Tonight, on Holy Thursday, we remember the birth of the priesthood – when Christ asked his apostles to be servants – when he asked them to continue breaking bread  - when he, the Son of God, washed their dirty FEET! When he asked them to pray with him in the Garden of Gethsemane.

I am thankful to have the Eucharist in my life – to be able come before God in adoration.

But, in order to get there, we have to walk the road to Calvary, acknowledge our part – that, like the apostles, we have fallen asleep when God has asked us to be vigilant, like Judas, we have traded on our faith for something materialistic, and, like Pilate, though we may have wanted to stand up for Christ, the pressures of the crowd have crushed us.

For me, reading the Passion out loud on Good Friday at church, playing the role of the crowd begging Pilate to crucify Christ truly is painful – but it forces me to acknowledge my own failings, when I have needed forgiveness.

We walk with Christ up that hill. We become spectators. Every time I listen to how Jesus picks up the cross – the very one on which He will be tortured – it astounds me. He so readily participated in the very event that will take his earthly life.

Tomorrow, we will revisit the Passion. And, we will remember that sweet, innocent Jesus, will shed His blood for us.

And on Easter Vigil, the reason for this excruciating suffering becomes clear. Our Lord has risen so that we might have eternal life.  We get to sing, “Alleluia” for the first time since Ash Wednesday. We fill our church with light and the blessing of Holy Water. We fill our home with color after a Lent filled with purple and darkness.

My wish for everyone this Triduum, is that whatever darkness is in your life – whatever sadness, whatever pain, whatever worry holds you captive – that light will flood your soul – Jesus light.