Speak Life

by Maiya

In every encounter, we either give life or we drain it. There is no neutral exchange. - Brennan Manning

So speak life. 1 Thes 5:11

From my kitchen window, I smile at our small garden in the backyard.

Cucumber vines climb high, deep green squash leaves curl around corners, and tender tomato foliage opens wide, reaching for light. From a distance, plant life appears to be flourishing.

The garden whispers:

Look closely. Listen carefully. Where is life thriving, and where is it diminishing?

Upon closer inspection, I look to see leaves dusted with curious dots of white powder.

Other leaves or stems are yellowing, curling, browning and dying. Despite my careful attention for months, the garden is at risk.

The culprit?

Powdery mildew. It's a fungus among us, and young foliage is most susceptible. The fungus spores drift and settle, infecting leaves and withering them so they can no longer absorb light. The infection can spread quickly, damaging plants and destroying the fruit.

No light, no life.

A garden knows: life and light go hand in hand.

Multiple feelings swirl.

But I've learned it over and over again.

Before making a move, I have to look closely and listen carefully.

To my words.

Because when it comes to hardships in the garden, in life, or in recovery,

it is less about the external drama and more about our internal dialogue.

In this troubling situation, what were my words to myself?

The garden itself would help me spot the types of self-talk that could drain life:

Weeds of worry: "What if I can't do it? What if nothing works? What if..."

The climate of criticism: "I should have known about this. I'm not a good gardener. I should quit gardening."

The vines of victimization: "Why me? Nature and the world are out to get me! It's somebody else's fault!"

The pest of perfectionism: "My garden isn't magazine-worthy. It's not good enough. I'm not good enough."

The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook, 6th Edition - Bourne: Types of Negative Self-Talk

Subtle negative words are small spots of powdery mildew.

Unless examined and treated, the infection persists, impacting growth and change.

Words of negativity are a pervasive mentality.

Light and life are choked off. Darkness sets in and results in panic or depression.

Negative self-talk holds up a personal mirror.

Outcomes are reflected by words and beliefs, and the cycle persists.

Look closely. Listen carefully. Are your words life-giving, or life-depleting? There is no neutral exchange.

For better or for worse, our words tend to be learned over time and repeated.

But upon closer inspection, our words can be reviewed and re-made.

If we knew our wellness depended on our words,

would we inspect them more carefully, checking for life and light?

If we realized that well-being and well-doing depend on well-thinking,

would we try to think more clearly?

True, it's challenging to think clearly in the midst of heightened emotion.

And it's a struggle to think carefully when we are hurting, hangry or hungry from an unmet need.

Yet, to THINK means to choose to give life.

In the midst of circumstance, do we THINK before we speak or act?

Thoughtful words and actions are:

Truthful, or grounded in truth;

Helpful;

Inspiring;

Necessary; and

Kind.

The THINK acronym is used especially to urge students to THINK before they post words, phrases or comments on social media. Not THINK-ing has dark consequences. Everywhere.

Because unless we THINK, danger looms:

Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Prov. 18:21

And before uttering words to ourselves or others, we are warned: let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up. Eph. 4:29

Our spirits know: Words are energy. Words become energy. Energy has to move somewhere.

Let your speech always be gracious... Col 4:6

THINK.

The truth? Powdery mildew can happen anywhere, to anyone - and this could be a lesson in faith for me.

I could find help from other experienced gardeners, books, and articles.

I could be inspired by success stories using home-remedies and simple techniques while being grateful for farmers and growers who rely on their fields and gardens for their livelihood.

I knew it was necessary to face the problem directly, and that stewing in feelings would be unhelpful.

And, I could be kind to my garden by being kind to myself, trusting that I'd do my best.

Now (and only after THINKing), it was time for action:

I quickly removed the severely infected leaves to prevent the spread of the infection.

I sprayed and washed the affected areas with a special mixture to cleanse away the fungus.

And I replaced the plants that were no longer viable.

Talking to my vegetation, I uttered thanksgiving for the opportunity to care for the garden and these tender plants. I'd need to continue spraying to prevent the mildew from recurring.

A breeze reverberated my garden windchimes.

I heard it clearly, a series of duo-tones:

Joy-ful.

Pa-tient.

Faith-ful.

Joyful in hope. Patient in affliction. Faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12.

Speaking life, speaking light to the garden took time for me to THINK.

Speaking life, speaking light in our lives and our life-spaces takes THINKing about our words.

When negative words emerge:

Remove what is life-less;

Restore what is viable;

Replace what needs a fresh start.

Repeat.

We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ...

using our powerful God-tools

for smashing warped philosophies,

tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God,

fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse

into the structure of life shaped by Christ.

2Cor 10:5-6

The garden will keep calling me back for reminders that life and light go hand in hand.

I'll remember to speak to myself the way that I'd speak to my tender and precious plants.

Life will continue to ask: Let light in.

Circumstances will keep calling: Let life have a chance.

Growing new words...

what light - what life - is possible?

A word is dead

When it is said,

Some say.

I say it just

Begins to live

That day. -Emily Dickinson