Walking the talk
Seth Godin’s blog today reminds the reader:
“Every sentence has a purpose. It doesn’t exist to take up space. It exists to change the reader, to move her from here to there.
This sentence, then, what’s it for?
If it doesn’t move us closer to where we seek to go, delete it.”
When I am writing a blog my goal is to write 600 words or less. Frequently my first draft is close to 1000 words. I then read what I have written to discover what words or even sentences fail to move the reader closer to the goal of what I hope the reader will “hear”. I usually have to edit the same document multiple times.
Often, I refrain from editing what I am saying; fail to take responsibility for both the power of what I say, or the implications of what I don’t say. In other words speaking – verbally, in written form or through the medium of art, music or sculpture – carries a huge responsibility. Not speaking is also a form of speaking.
Language can be in the format of written words, a sculpture, a painting or notes of music. When I lived in Alaska in a Tlingit Indian village I leaned that the “white people – usually church leaders – destroyed the only written language which was in the format of totem poles. The “white people” did not understand that the totem poles which included animals and figures of people such as United States presidents, was a historical record just as much as their written documents.
Since it was so called Christians who often oppressively destroyed the written history and overall culture I was reminded of a quote from the Gospel according to John, chapter 1 and verse one: “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God.” (New International Version). Some spiritual teachers talk about the need to not only talk the talk but walk the talk. All actions begin with an intention. I may communicate that intention to myself and to others with a sentence comprised of words or another format. This then becomes a covenant between me and the core of who I am – my spiritual center which some refer to as God. Thus, the word is my covenant is with the God of my understanding. If I am sincere in my commitment that word then takes wings and becomes manifest reality. The totality of that reality could be referred to as the God of my understanding – that force which encompasses all that is, all that is to be and all that has been – all. As Seth Godin says the word and the sentence has a purpose. The word should never be uttered to fill up space.
Now comes the test as I get ready to read through what I have just written. Does every word and every sentence have a purpose? What is that purpose? My intention today is to be aware of – to take responsibility for – to be mindful - of the power of my spoken and unspoken words. My intention it to remind myself that each word is with the God of my understanding and is the God of my understanding. I want to have words and sentence which move me and others in the direction of “walking the talk”
Written January 8, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
Seth Godin’s blog today reminds the reader:
“Every sentence has a purpose. It doesn’t exist to take up space. It exists to change the reader, to move her from here to there.
This sentence, then, what’s it for?
If it doesn’t move us closer to where we seek to go, delete it.”
When I am writing a blog my goal is to write 600 words or less. Frequently my first draft is close to 1000 words. I then read what I have written to discover what words or even sentences fail to move the reader closer to the goal of what I hope the reader will “hear”. I usually have to edit the same document multiple times.
Often, I refrain from editing what I am saying; fail to take responsibility for both the power of what I say, or the implications of what I don’t say. In other words speaking – verbally, in written form or through the medium of art, music or sculpture – carries a huge responsibility. Not speaking is also a form of speaking.
Language can be in the format of written words, a sculpture, a painting or notes of music. When I lived in Alaska in a Tlingit Indian village I leaned that the “white people – usually church leaders – destroyed the only written language which was in the format of totem poles. The “white people” did not understand that the totem poles which included animals and figures of people such as United States presidents, was a historical record just as much as their written documents.
Since it was so called Christians who often oppressively destroyed the written history and overall culture I was reminded of a quote from the Gospel according to John, chapter 1 and verse one: “In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God.” (New International Version). Some spiritual teachers talk about the need to not only talk the talk but walk the talk. All actions begin with an intention. I may communicate that intention to myself and to others with a sentence comprised of words or another format. This then becomes a covenant between me and the core of who I am – my spiritual center which some refer to as God. Thus, the word is my covenant is with the God of my understanding. If I am sincere in my commitment that word then takes wings and becomes manifest reality. The totality of that reality could be referred to as the God of my understanding – that force which encompasses all that is, all that is to be and all that has been – all. As Seth Godin says the word and the sentence has a purpose. The word should never be uttered to fill up space.
Now comes the test as I get ready to read through what I have just written. Does every word and every sentence have a purpose? What is that purpose? My intention today is to be aware of – to take responsibility for – to be mindful - of the power of my spoken and unspoken words. My intention it to remind myself that each word is with the God of my understanding and is the God of my understanding. I want to have words and sentence which move me and others in the direction of “walking the talk”
Written January 8, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
RSS Feed