Missionary Thought for the Week of July 9, 2018: Words

Missionary Objective #7:
To teach people to live as God sees us - 
First, by the example of our own lives; 
then, by friendship; 
then, by words.

​Words.
 
Words are last on our list, encouraged only after we have been living the example of our Mission in all that we do, and then by extending Missionary Friendship to all those in our paths.  Words come last in terms of both priority and sequence.  After all, we can only talk or write about our Mission after we have lived it ourselves and extended it to others, experienced its effects and reached intimate familiarity with its principles.  The people around us are more likely to understand what our words mean when they are already accustomed to seeing it in action through us.  Experience further provides a natural enthusiasm.  If we ourselves find benefit from what we have been doing, it makes it far more likely we will want to discuss or write about it.
 
So how, then, are we to employ our words in the missionary sense?  Particularly, to teach?
 
As God sees us.
 
How does God see us?
 
As His beloved children.

Therefore: We are to employ our words by writing or speaking in the manner in which God sees us: as His Children. 
 
It bears repeating that this is an idealistic view, in that we are to assume the best qualities of childhood.  Once more, we do acknowledge that ideals are not attainable when childhood experience falls far short of what it might be… when circumstances are angry, threatening, desperately poor or greatly overwhelming.  However, we also acknowledge that there is a certain universal kernel of what might be and what ought to be associated with childhood.  Our previous posts discuss this in far more detail and may be worth a revisit.

​Using words in the manner God sees us embodies the entire Mission of Saint Thorlak, which we have put into action through example and now extend that example to our words.
 
Here are some suggestions of how this might look.
 
-Whenever we speak or write, assume the best of the people around us, even if we have experienced their worst.  [Caritas]

-Choose phrasing with the same purity and clarity we would use when speaking or writing to a child.  This does not mean to talk down.  It means to exercise the patience and care with each person that expresses the importance of their welfare to us. [Caritas]

-If our phrasing would sound like verbal abuse to a child, it would sound like verbal abuse to anyone, and would be considered a violation of that person’s dignity. [Caritas]

-Speak or write from the heart, earnestly, acknowledging our limits when necessary, without fear.  [Voluntary Humility]

-Be generous in showing the other person our need to engage them in our interests. [Voluntary Humility]

-Be known.  Keep anonymity in check.  We cannot be authentic if we are anonymous.  God calls us each by name; use it. [Voluntary Humility]

-Speak and write with emotion.  Even business letters can convey what we feel, and will draw our common humanity out of our recipients. [Contemplative Sense of Wonder]

-Ask questions.  Take extra time to understand.  Be upfront about the benefits of considering things thoughtfully. [Contemplative Sense of Wonder]
​
-Demonstrate trust first. If people prove untrustworthy, adjust accordingly; but start off with the benefit of trust, and believe that people will rise to our expectations. [Leading by Example]

​There are two more elements to be discussed in greater detail, which we will cover over the next few weeks.  One is employing our voice – a very powerful and overlooked source of human connection, yet a difficult challenge both in the electronic age and among people with verbal challenges.  The other is a caution against imposing rescue.  The Mission of Saint Thorlak is rooted in merciful love, which is (to the surprise of many) the exact opposite of a rescue mission. 
 
For now: Let us concentrate on our words, paying closer attention to how we use them, and considering how we can begin bringing them closer to becoming Missionary words in nature.

​Pray: Heavenly Father, we ask for Your Light to shine upon the words in our hearts and minds.  Help us imagine speaking these words in the presence of young children… or, how we might hear them as a child… and realizing their effects before they ever leave our lips.
 
Contemplate: This week, ponder this verse from the Book of Proverbs: “Words satisfy the soul as food satisfies the stomach; the right words on a person’s lips bring satisfaction.” [Proverbs 18:20]
 
Relate: Keep a particular focus on our words this week, and notice which conversations demonstrate principles from the Way of Saint Thorlak (caritas, voluntary humility, contemplative sense of wonder, leading by example).  Does it affect the dynamics of our connections?

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THE SUMMER FEAST DAY NOVENA
IN HONOR OF SAINT THORLAK
STARTS THIS WEEK
12 JULY - 20 JULY

Pray the Novena with us here!