Choice Conversations

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver (Proverbs 25:11, NKJV).

The following account by Rico Tice about an English couple who did not communicate really communicates to us about the need to engage those around us in meaningful conversation.  This true story seems unbelievable, but it’s true.

The story, published in a British newspaper, began with the following sentence: "Heartfelt commiseration to Dorothy Naylor of Plymouth, whose recent daytrip to Bridgewater was spoiled when her husband, Oliver, left her on the forecourt of a garage … and drove 17 miles before noticing his wife was not in the car."  "I couldn't believe he'd gone without me," Mrs. Naylor told the Western Morning News. "I usually sit in the back because I can move around more, but normally we talk to one another." The couple, both in their 70s, had pulled into a garage to change a tire. Mr. Naylor drove off and didn't notice his wife's absence until he had arrived in Bridgewater. After stopping in town, he asked his wife, "Where do you want to get out?" When she didn't answer, he turned around and discovered that he had left her behind. The paper added that the couple had been married for 40 years.

If you are married, do you engage your spouse with loving, significant communication?  If you’re not, do you affirm others with your words?  Perhaps that is what Solomon had in mind when he compared choice, precious speech to “apples of gold.”  Are you enriching those around you with your “golden” discourse?  You can.  Have the “Midas Touch” when you speak.    

True Humility

Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth (Numbers 12:3, NKJV).

What does true humility look like?  How would we recognize its presence?  Perhaps an example will help.  John Dickson writes about an incident that captures the profound humility of Sir Edmund Hillary.  You might remember him as the one who became famous as the first successful mountain climber of Mt. Everest in 1953, along with his Sherpa friend and guide, Tenzin Norgay.  Dickson writes:

On one of his many trips back to the Himalayas he was spotted by a group of tourist climbers. They begged for a photo with the great man, and Hillary obliged. They handed him an ice pick so he would look the part and set up for the photograph. Just then another climber passed the group and, not recognizing the man at the center, strode up to Hillary saying, "Excuse me, that's not how you hold an ice pick. Let me show you."  Everyone stood around in amazed silence as Hillary thanked the man, let him adjust the pick, and happily went on with the photograph.  It doesn't matter how experienced that other climber was; his greatness was diminished by this intrusive presumption. We are repelled by pride. Edmund Hillary's greatness, however, is somehow enhanced by this humility.

How would you score on a humility test?  Would you be proud of your score?   Hillary’s humility should serve as an example for all of us to avoid thinking too highly of ourselves.  He modeled humility like Moses.  Will you?