A conversation with a friend the other day stirred something that was latent in me, or dormant rather. I was giving this friend some compliments, explaining what I liked about him. He was perplexed at my mentioning areas that he felt insecure and thought he was lacking in. Frankly, it made him uncomfortable: "Weirds me out," he said. I explained that I get that a lot. I said we all have insecurities, and I like to combat that. "It's kind of my thing," I said.
Often our perceived flaws are all we see when we examine ourselves. Along with my slew of compliments, I told my friend that I try to only say what I mean. See, I want my word to be good, for those around me to know that while I may compliment easily, I say it because I want others to know themselves from a different vantage point. Looking in a mirror is only a replicated image of the real thing. When someone else knows your heart, studies your actions, hears you -- they notice what you only have time to fret about in your imagination. You only know how your body feels to move about in, how the words form in your mind, how your voice sounds from inside your own head. Others see you, understand you, and hear your words or song. They get to, that is.
People fascinate me. Granted, they also frustrate me, but...there are things I see in other people that amaze me, or give me joy or a warm feeling of pride in humanity. But those people likely don't see - let alone know it is in themselves.
I've learned through many hurts over the years, many poorly chosen words toward me and by me, that our words have immense power. People have written and spoken things to me, good and bad that will be, even if only in sentiment, etched in my mind forever. Power to tear down or build up...
"That's noble," my friend replied, maybe mockingly, who knows. The thing is I'm not passionate about it for the nobility, but for the psychology, for the nourishment of our souls. If I have the power to sow into another's life a truth of who they are, I can change the world.
Not just because it's the good thing to do, but because it's the powerful thing to do. And because it's the loving thing to do; speak the truth in love.
