Talking About People

Not too long ago, I was in a small group on a Confirmation retreat, talking about masks – the tendency that we all have to be fake.  Specifically, we were discussing how easy it can be to put masks on other people – or label them.  One of the group participants shared with me an awesome story that I want to share with you.

She told me that there was a group of students at her school that she had labeled, because she noticed that they were always talking about people, especially after those people left the group.  She assumed, naturally, that this was a group of gossipers who were mean, and she didn't want to be a part of a group like that!

However, she eventually got to know this group, and in so doing discovered something incredible – that people in this group do talk about people, but they only talk about good things – they talk about what they like and admire about others!  How crazy cool is that?

This got me thinking, since Lent is coming up soon.  How different would the world be if we all challenged our groups of friends to be like this group – when we talk about people, to only say good things about them? 

This notion reminds me of a great Scripture

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
--Ephesians 4:29, NIV