Hello, my friends!
Every time I tell someone that I have a son that’s a drummer, they respond with a sort of lighthearted apology…“I’m so sorry for you.” What they mean is, “your home must be so noisy.” And they’re right. We initially bought an electric drum kit for Gabe, but it just didn’t have the “feel.” Drums require some resistance. They have to push back a bit. You don’t get that from digital. It’s gotta be analog.
We’ve grown somewhat accustomed to it, over the years, but the truth is, there are days where we send him to play the drum kit at church, because the noise has a way of rattling us all, especially during this quarantine. Clanging cymbals can wreak havoc on a heart that is weary or stressed. They can make it almost impossible to think straight.
It has given the familiar verse in 1 Cor. 13:1 incredible poignancy. “If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” Without love, our words are noise. Not just noise, but overwhelming, clanging noise…the kind that makes the fillings in your teeth rattle.
And for Paul, it is all or nothing. Your speech can be angelic, and yet without love, it is worthless. It is worse than worthless. These words cause distress. They cause confusion. They create division. They destroy peace.
But to speak words of compassion isn’t just a matter of choosing the right words. Love requires an awareness of the spirit behind those words. And for Paul, it is very simple. Words of love have two aspects. They are patient. And they are kind.
Without those, the words become worthless. In Latin this is called the sine qua non. “Without which, nothing.” If you’ve lost your patience, don’t speak. If you’ve lost your kindness, you’ve lost the love, and with it, their entire value.
As I struggle through some of the awkward emotions of quarantine, I can feel an inner distress. I feel pain caused by all the unknowns. I wonder, how much longer? What is tomorrow going to look like? What does the future hold? And my temptation is to go looking for more information online. To listen to what the ‘experts’ are saying. To go peeking around the internet for the next theory.
But 1 Cor. 13 reminds us that we only see in part. At least today. All of us are guessing. None of us sees clearly. Except, of course, God. A God who “always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” That is where our hope lies. And that hope, we are told, remains. So does faith. Paul writes, these three remain, faith, hope, and love.
And then he reminds us…but the greatest of these is love.
As I finish these words, my phone rings. It’s Gabe. “Dad, is it okay if I play drums?” “Yeah.” “Okay, sick.”
I sure love that kid!
Today, let’s be mindful of the words we choose. But more than that, that what we say is said with patience and kindness. Let our words be seasoned with grace.
I want to remind you that tonight is Deeper Walk and I’d sure love to have you there! We start at 7 PM and you can get there by clicking this link right here. Or you can go to Zoom and use the meeting ID: 652 073 534 and the password 424026.
Hope to see you there!
Love you guys!
Jeff