“Language, please!”
I spend more time out and about in public spaces these days. Before retirement, at least 8 to 10 hours of each day were spent with co-workers and customers. Overall, there really wasn’t much swearing or coarse language to be heard. It self-regulated partly out of professionalism, and also due to simple courtesy for our peers.
Gracious speech isn't solely a biblical idea, but I did find over 100 bible verses to mirror my work experiences:
Ephesians 4:29 “ Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”That’s why some brash public swearing caught my attention this past month. On several occasions, people near me in the store or in a parking lot just let loose with coarse strings of expletives….#%@$ !! None of them were directed at me, I just happened to be within immediate earshot. One guy was angry for forgetting his purchase in the store. Another woman was venting after an obviously contentious cell phone conversation. #%@$ !!
Look, I’m no angel. I’ve needed my mouth washed out with soap many times over the years. (Miss Daley, my 4th grade teacher, actually did insert a sliver of soap into the mouth of an older boy she heard taunting us at recess. "Swish it around in there, Jimmy and we'll make sure you clean out those filthy words,” she huffed. She might be arrested for that now).
It’s wrong to say there’s a ‘proper’ time and place for swearing. God is our companion wherever we go. But it’s definitely not meant for Main Street or public areas where we have families and toddlers in tow. Common courtesy.
So here’s what I did. Last week when I heard a young woman curse into her phone as we strolled by, I said, “Language.” in a firm, neutral tone loud enough to be heard. I’m not sure what I expected, but to my surprise, she immediately said, “Oh. Yeah, sorry!” in her own tone of sincere apology. With that one word, she knew exactly what I meant. Emboldened - and encouraged - I tried it again. A guy this time, #%@$ ! As he struggled to cram some boxes into his hatchback. “Language, please,” I said in the same even, but firm voice as I walked by. “Yeah….you’re right.” he slowly agreed, no less pleased with his overflowing packages. These two folks could have turned on me, irritated and belligerent. Or, they might have had no real clue - no idea why some guy was blurting “language” into thin air (poor man). But they knew.
We know right from wrong, don’t we? At many levels. We’re made in the image of God. He gave us a conscience. Historically, we’ve absorbed discerning, common-courtesy behavior like this by following the lead of family and community role models. Judeo-Christian ethic. Midwestern values. In a society attending church or synagogue and familiar with the Bible, coarse language sticks out and offends. At least it should.
What it if somebody did the same thing to me, only they firmly, loudly called my attention to other behaviors of mine... "Curb your selfishness, please!" Lighten up on the Impatience, please!" "Insensitive, please!" "Less Greed, please!" Ouch. Would I be irritated and belligerent? I hope not. I hope I’d come around as quickly as those other two folks did…”Oh, yeah, sorry!” “Yeah, you’re right,” and then get on with things.
Language is a reasonably non-combative topic. But what if I walked down the street of a crime and arson-ridden town? "Stop Stealing, please!" "No Assaults, please!" "Stop Destroying property, please" I might finally meet with some irritation and belligerence, or worse - even if the call-out struck home in their hearts.
Jeremiah 18:12 "But they will say, ‘It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of their evil heart.'"
Remember Miss Daley, my 4th grade teacher taking care of business with the swearing bully? I just did an internet search about potty mouths and how to best correct our children….35 million suggestions. Start there. Pray we can return a few generations to the "common" courtesy shared by people made in the image of our loving God.
What do you believe?
1 comment:
Yes, people do know. Have you ever tried to figure out what makes some words unacceptable and what makes other ones fine? Aren't we just making a sound with our mouths where some sounds are right and some wrong.
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