The Big Betrayer

Picking up from many thoughts of my past, I realize how easily we are betrayed by our words. Choosing the wrong vocabulary, misapplying an incorrect word, or even using a good word but in a negative way.

But there is a hidden destroyer, that big betrayer, and if you will bare with me for a moment, it is simply your attitude.

I’m convinced over and again that we can mask how we feel with words, but talk long enough and your attitude and response to life will slip through. It’s impossible to keep our attitude hidden. Even words are powerless.

Listen. Words come into vogue, and just as quickly, they fade into obscurity. Words make the news, and then get passed to the public as a tool for conversing with others. Smarmy. Buzzy. Smart aleck.

But our attitudes are suspect regardless of the words we use.

Here’s a nugget to think through. Many words we use were at some time deemed inappropriate. When we use them casually today, I believe they betray the inward thinking of our mind. As they become mainstream in our conversation, I can only suspect your true intentions. Words paint a picture of you I don’t want to think about. What do I do? Mostly, I draw deeper in my shell of ignoring certain sources of input.

I was in a webinar with a man I respected, and suddenly, his words threw me for a loop. What we once consider foul and impolite were now being used in casual conversation. By him. For the briefest of moments I considered exiting the conversation, but suddenly realized many in my world use the same words all the time.

Filters

I’ve learned to filter words by the attitude I sense underlying the phrase I hear. Maybe I can filter the words to be acceptable, but cannot filter the attitude. But I can understand.

You see, I filter words by funneling them into a translation routine. Let them become other words I can find acceptable. The problem? When the words represent the unspeakable, there is no replacement to be found, so I must take a stronger position of reacting.

But it’s the attitude that is harder to filter. I must know where you are coming from, why you feel like you do, and why are you masking your attitude with words that don’t match?

Here’s My Thought

Today, some thoughts and words creep into my being. They come from sources that I’ve learned to filter out, but they are still there. I may not want to filter you out of my equation, but if the words and attitude cannot be understood, then I simply erase you and your inputs.

Just this week I’ve filtered someone out of my life who did not have the sense to keep his words to himself, and by posting on my thought, he allowed his attitude to trounce everyone else.

Filtered! Gone! Never to be included again. I don’t even have to explain myself. This is MY power of controlling my Social Media accounts. You have no power in my life.

Equally. I don’t want to continually filter my output, as in, “Pardon my French”. If my words cannot equal my attitude, then my words have no place in your hearing. I simply control my thought process that produces the words. Filters.

It’s Spiritual

I’ve used this often, and will probably tag into it many times in the future. Every time I study these words I keep seeing more light! You may be able to read through them with speed and aplomb, but I find myself stopping and thinking them through.

There’s some truth here! You need to grab hold of it. Use it. And then teach others by your words and example.

Jesus started a theme in his words that permeate my entire being. I hope.

“It is the spirit that quickeneth;
the flesh profiteth nothing:
the words that I speak unto you,
they are spirit, and they are life.”
John 6:63 (KJV)

Jesus is saying that the words he utilizes comes from the Spirit at work in his life. Yes, he used strong language at times, confronting the naysayers, and even lashing out with truth to the money changers in the temple…

Do you understand?

Peter understood these words and replied with certainty. “The words you speak have eternal life.” (John 6:68) He was becoming the spokesperson of the disciples, and some would even call him the earliest pope of all times. But remember this. Everything is a building process. It wasn’t too much later than these words that Peter showed his internal self. His true personality, if you would. His attitude.

Jesus is being tried by the world, and Peter is slipping in close to find out what was going on. Slowly, he is recognized.

“Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee.

But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man.

And immediately the cock crew. And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.”  
Matthew 26:69-75 (KJV)

Notice the process.

Consider that Peter had just sworn he would Die for Jesus! Why is he now acting this way? Emotions are often spent like tossed pennies in a wishing well. They hide our attitude, just like words,

But with Peter?

It began with simple denial. Was fear driving him? Possible. It’s an emotion. Then, he used an oath. And finally cursing and swearing. His emotions started him down the path, and his attitude betrayed him.

It’s a process. Is it like this all the time? No. Sometimes we slip into the final step because we’ve been down this path before and we know how we feel. Our attitude betrays our words!

Simply start down the path and fail to reign it in and before you know it you will be so far flung from who you thought you were.

You feed your attitude, regardless of the words, it’s your attitude that becomes your big betrayer.

If I could help us all here for a final thought.

Control those few words that are on the edge of acceptance, it’s easy to be led down the primrose path of too much, too far. Better yet, control the attitude that allows you to think these words are acceptable.

Do you remember that childhood song from Sunday School?

Be careful little ears what you ear,
mouth what you say, hands what you do,
for the Father up above is looking down in love.
So… Be Careful!

Take charge of your words, they reflect who you are on the inside. Even when you look so nice on the outside. White Washed Sepulchers, as Jesus describes the Pharisees. Your attitude is your big betrayer.

We cannot change our past. We can not change the fact that people act in a certain way. We can not change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. ~Charles R. Swindoll