Be silent or speak up?

Ten people who speak make more noise than ten thousand who are silent.

(Napoleon Bonaparte)

I must ask the question - just how much do you speak? How many times do you find it more important to get your 'two cents' in when others are raising a subject you might just know a little bit about? When you think you know more than they do, is that the time you interject your thoughts? When you believe you can add valuable information, do you find the urge to speak up? We have a whole lot of people offering opinions these days, but I reckon the silence of the wise may just confound those who are offering such opinions!

The more talk, the less truth; the wise measure their words. (Proverbs 10:19)

The wise measure their words. What exactly does that mean to you? To me, 'measuring one's words' is kind of like putting a muffler on your mouth. You 'suppress' some of the things you might like to say. It is also a little bit like using that tiny tube on the spray can of lubricant - it is aimed at exactly what (or who) needs to receive it and nothing else. 

We can be 'over-speakers' or even 'under-speakers'. Offer way too much, in situations where we don't really need to be contributors and we are likely to be viewed as 'butting in' or 'getting into someone's business'. Offer what some may consider as way too little and some may think you are ignorant, don't care, or are in total agreement with what they are saying. The problem with 'speaking' is that our words can get all messed up - we say the wrong stuff, at the wrong time, with the wrong intonation - muddying the waters in relationship way too often.

The wise measure their words because they have learned there is an 'art' to speaking the right words at the right time in a manner that will build up, give direction, or lend to the solution. How did they learn that? If we are perfectly honest here, it is likely through speaking too much at times, not enough at others, and words best left unspoken on occasion. The thing that sets the 'wise' apart is that they have learned from their 'words'. 

Bonaparte brings up an interesting point for us to consider - are words always the strongest way to 'speak'? I would have to say there are times when silence speaks way louder than any words I could speak. It conveys my disappointment on occasion, while it conveys my disinterest at others. It may be as important for us to learn to use silence as wisely as we have learned to use our words wisely. Sometimes what isn't spoken is the most important 'message' we need to be attentive toward. 

I think of a large group of peers gathered together to brainstorm the solution to a big problem. Many of the 'stronger' communicators in the group will speak up, write their solutions on the board, and even 'feed off each other's comments'. Then you will observe a few in every group who don't say much, if anything. Do they not have anything to add? They have ideas, see things in a different way than the 'louder crowd' may see them, but they are 'silent'. Why?

Maybe it is because they have learned it is wiser to let the 'louder' voices get their ideas all out there and then they speak up with the simplest of explanations or solutions to the problem. The quiet voice of reason heard from the back of the room - having thought it through, given it a chance to come together, then they speak up. Silence doesn't bespeak a lack of answers - it could just be the 'silent' are forming their thought into the most perfect of answers to the problem at hand! Just sayin!

Can I get a witness?

Who do you find it the hardest to speak to? What are the words you have the hardest time saying? What are the thoughts you need to share, but you feel you just aren't up to it, or that it is just too difficult to say them? We all have those moments when it is one of the most difficult things to just say what it is we need to say - to get out into the open what has been veiled behind other words for so long. How many of us really get to the point of sharing our full heart with those who need to hear the words contained within it? Counsel and guidance are there, but do we know how to share it, or when it is the right time to share them? From the looks of things, I'd say we don't do a very good job with this one, my friends!

It's true that moral guidance and counsel need to be given, but the way you say it and to whom you say it are as important as what you say. It's obvious, isn't it, that the law code isn't primarily for people who live responsibly, but for the irresponsible, who defy all authority, riding roughshod over God, life, sex, truth, whatever! They are contemptuous of this great Message I've been put in charge of by this great God. (I Timothy 1:8-11)

There is indeed importance in tempering one's words, being aware of our audience, and of being sensitive to the timing of our message. Did you ever stop to consider the message you have to bring to those God has place you into relationship with? Yes, the most important of those messages is the truth that the only qualification for being called of God is to be a sinner - he never called the righteous, only those in need of a Savior. A condition all of us bears and one from which we all need deliverance. We are called to befriend sinners - not to be involved in their sin, but to be friends with sinners. The purpose is to bring love, mercy and grace into their lives. There will be other counsel and guidance that comes out of that relationship each of us has with Christ - and each other. There also needs to be the wisdom and guidance as to how to share it and when the time has arrived for it to be shared!

Hear this - we all have a message that needs to be heard. That message may be seen as moral guidance and counsel from time to time - especially when the heart gets entangled in things it ought not to be paying attention to in this life. This counsel and guidance actually needs to be given. Yet, not everyone is in the place of receiving such a message. When there is a basis of friendship, I am more apt to listen to the message - even when I am not really excited about hearing it! Moral guidance and counsel are not always spoken words. A modeled life is actually of more importance than the words we speak. There is nothing more disgraceful to the gospel message than a person who speaks about love, grace and mercy, but has no evidence of these in their lives. Jesus calls us to be examples of his work in us. In other words, we are to model to the world what he has accomplished in us by first loving us, extending his grace to us, and repeatedly bringing mercy into our lives.

The sinner knows nothing about the love of God, but can understand the loving actions of a brother or sister who comes alongside to walk with them during a time when they receive a serious diagnosis about their health. There is understanding that comes about the amazing grace of God when we should have been hurt by something someone did or said, but we press in deeper into the relationship despite the hurt. The eyes of a spiritually blind man can be opened wide to understanding grace as they take in the repeated times of forgiveness for the repeated times of failure in their lives. Sinners need saints - not to preach the message - but to live the message. The plan God had from the beginning was for each of us to be living examples of his love - displaying to each other the wonder of a loving, holy, and caring God. We cannot underestimate the value of being an example of moral guidance and wise counsel - actions truly do speak more than a thousand words!

There are times I drift into complaint about something that bothers me repeatedly - you might think of it as the reaction to that one person who just constantly rubs me the wrong way with their actions or words. The repeated wearing of their actions or words just leaves me circling the drain when it comes to going a 'little south' with my words about them! I would rather complain about them to another than deal with the wrong responses I have toward their actions. I must admit, it is like adding kerosene to an already glowing ember when I do! Rather than getting things right in my mind and heart, I allow those feelings to ignite words of complaint and those just create fuel for the fire! The wisest counsel my BFF often gives me is nothing more than silence when she hears these words emerge from my lips. Why is that wise counsel? She isn't adding fuel to the fire! She helps me put the fire out rather than adding fuel to it!

There aren't always times when we need to speak - sometimes we just need to be silent. Our silence speaks volumes and brings some of the wisest counsel to bear on a situation. At other times, we need those words that remind us to consider this action or the way we have been responding. Either way, the words we say, or the message we deliver in silence, speak volumes and help hearts to know when it is time to turn away from something toward a much more solid foundation! Just sayin!

Silence speaks the loudest

Do not answer (nor pretend to agree with the frivolous comments of) a (closed-minded) fool according to his folly, otherwise you, even you, will be like him.  Answer (and correct the erroneous concepts of) a fool according to his folly, otherwise he will be wise in his own eyes (if he thinks you agree with him). (Proverbs 26:4-5 AMP)

This passage seemed a little contradictory this morning. The first part of the passage tells us NOT to answer a fool, while the second part tells us we DO answer a fool. Confusing, huh? So, how is it we are to respond to foolish people, with their foolish plans and supposed "wisdom of the ages" as they put it? There are indeed times when we probably just need to keep silent, for our silence is enough to counteract their foolishness! 

There are other times when it is both wise and necessary to answer their foolishness - so that others aren't manipulated by their foolish plans or pulled into senseless beliefs themselves. Learning how to do this is kind of like an art - it takes wisdom and some practice - for I am here to report I have tried on occasion to do so without much success! I got pulled into argument rather than just helping to shed a little wisdom into the situation - just because it was so doggone easy to fall into the trap of argument when all I needed to do was state truth and stand firm!

As our writer states, some will try to pretend to agree with the fool who has a very closed mind, just because they think it is easier - avoiding confrontation and calamity. It is indeed easier, but in the end you find the foolishness just gets magnified because the fool now thinks he has others following his train of thought and purpose! It is equally unwise to allow the fool to continue with his folly without giving as much light and truth into the matter as is possible - for whatever is not corrected by truth becomes a new standard by which one makes decisions and takes future actions.

While it may not be easy to correct a fool, for they seem to be set in their ways, it is necessary to continually bring truth into a matter whenever practical. As I have already stated, there are times when silence (not saying anything at all to counter their foolish words or actions) is just as good as stating truth. For example, when the fool is attempting to incite argument and/or divide a group of people, is it wise to jump right into it with the fool? Probably not, for the fool is rarely dissuaded from his mission to create havoc and stir up dissension in the ranks. 

We don't like the tactic of silence on occasion, but honestly it may speak the "loudest" message to the fool who is just not being dissuaded from their evil intent and foolish message. Just sayin (or maybe not sayin)!

Silence - is it really golden?

If you really stop to think about it, it is possible everyone is fighting some kind of battle you might know nothing at all about because they are fighting it on their own terms. Most of the time, we can "create" some reason why they are so very stand-offish, too concerned about some things while clearly neglecting others, or just plain obnoxious about an issue. The truth may simply be they are dealing with a battle quite unique to them, yet quite similar to one we may have been fighting ourselves - just on different terms! "Words may be false and full of art; sighs are the natural language of the heart." (Thomas Shadwell) The truest of words may actually be those which are not really spoken, but remain buried deep in the heart of the one who is struggling!

I turned and witnessed something else under the sun: the race does not always go to the swift, the battle is not always won by the strong, bread does not always fill the table of the wise, wealth does not always accrue to the skillful, and favor is not always granted to the knowledgeable; but time and misfortune happen to them all. A person can’t possibly know when his time will come. Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds trapped in a snare, without warning the unexpected happens, and people are caught up in an evil time. (Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 VOICE)

We may not always win the race, but what matters is how well we have run it. What may also matter is that we know deep within that we don't run that race alone - there are others running right alongside us, even though it appears they are merely running their own race. "Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from." (Elisabeth Kubler-Ross)  If all events are blessings, even the "not so good ones", then we can put into use each and every event - first in our own lives, then in the lives of those we run alongside.

It is an art to learn from the silence of another - for the very action which may not seem to reveal much on the surface may actually be speaking the loudest.  The events of life happen and we all deal with them in somewhat dissimilar, yet similar ways.  Each personality renders their own method of "attack" when the challenge faces them, but as much as we think our circumstance to be unique, solitary, or confined just to our little space in this world, it has a much bigger impact!  

What we must realize is that the silence one may live in at the moment really has a great deal of activity going on within that "zone of silence".  There are very few of us who are still living and breathing on this earth who actually will admit to the "action" within our silence - yet it is there nonetheless.  Races are still being run, although feet are not moving.  Battles are still being fought, although weapons are not drawn.  Bread is still necessary, although the body may look full to the brim for the soul can be hungry to the core.  Favor may seem to accompany a few, but who knows the attention eagerly sought by the one who remains silent in the frenzy of the moment?

Silence is not always golden - for sometimes it may be marred with dirt, covered in crud, and littered with offensive clutter.  We cannot judge the silence of another as "meaning" this or that - for only the one who has retreated into that silence really knows the struggle within. It takes an artful companion to draw from that silence the true meaning contained within the souls deepest of sighs!  Just sayin!

A Black Hole

Kind of feel like you are crying into a "black hole" at times?  When you are there, do you feel like you are getting much out of that "hole"?  Probably not - so why do you keep crying?  Isn't it because you know no matter how "black" the "hole" seems, you know there is light just around the corner?  Deafening silence can do a number on our head, can't it?  We just don't do well in silence - we like to hear noise of some kind!  If you have ever been around people who enjoy silence, you might just feel a little uncomfortable trying to "conform" to the silence.  It is in those moments you realize how much your stomach growls, your breath gets taken in with a subtle whistle in your nose, and your swallowing sounds like you are ingesting a dry ball of yarn!  All these "sounds" make us a little self-conscious, so we try to "mask" them with a little noise.  I wonder if we do the same thing when it comes to getting silent with God - his silence (and ours) make us just a little too "self-conscious" and we squirm a little as a result.

Don’t turn a deaf ear when I call you, God.  If all I get from you is deafening silence, I’d be better off in the Black Hole.  I’m letting you know what I need, calling out for help and lifting my arms toward your inner sanctum.  Blessed be God—he heard me praying.  He proved he’s on my side; I’ve thrown my lot in with him.  Now I’m jumping for joy,and shouting and singing my thanks to him. God is all strength for his people, ample refuge for his chosen leader; save your people and bless your heritage.  Care for them; carry them like a good shepherd.  (Psalm 28:1-2; 6-9 MSG)

Too many times we think we need God to listen to us, when in truth, we need to listen to him!  Listening means we first incline our ear, then we open our heart.  In turn, we pay attention and we don't miss what is being shared. When we are too "self-conscious", we probably aren't listening very well.  We don't want to be "found out", so we try to mask what we are self-conscious about with a little "noise".  God isn't fooled by our "noise" - he is moved into action by our silence!  We call, then we need to just settle in for him to answer - listening means we actually settle in for a while because communication occurs in time, not instantly.

When we ask God to bend his ear toward what we are saying, we are asking him to incline his ear - a more accurate way of saying this is that we are asking God to fasten himself on our every word - spoken and unspoken.  Yep, even the unspoken ones - because he knows the intent of the heart even when it isn't spoken!  By bending toward us, he is not submitting to us, but he is guiding us into a place where our communication with him actually can become free-flowing and intimate.  When you call someone closer to share something, you don't want the whole world to know what you are sharing - you are sharing something only that person needs to hear. 

In this position, God can let us in on his truths.  The real things he wants to share with us only come as we are inclined toward him.  We have lots and lots of truth - some shared by our fathers, other shared at our mother's knee - but none is as good as the counsel from the one who knows our heart inside and out.  Yet, we miss out on this intimate sharing because we cannot keep silent long enough to catch what is being said.  If you have ever tried to listen when someone is whispering into your ear, a lot of background noise will not make it easy to catch what is being said.  Some of us need to learn how to shut off the background noise in our lives - some of which we create ourselves just because we don't like being "self-conscious" in the silence!

Maybe we need to be a little more conscious about "self", for it is "self" which gets us into such binds at times and keeps us in turmoil at others.  It might just be "self" which gets us crying into the "black hole" in desperation because what we created on our own, in our own timing, or by our own stubborn will is just not panning out so well for us.  Rather than cursing the "black hole" of seeming silence from God, maybe we'd be well-served to allow the "black hole" to lead us to "incline" our ear a little closer to the one who needs to speak into our lives.  Just sayin!

What mighty walls, Jericho!

Have you ever read the story of the storming of Jericho?  It begins with the statement:  "Jericho was shut up tight as a drum because of the People of Israel: no one going in, no one coming out." (Joshua 6:1 MSG)  Now, let me paint a little picture for you of Jericho, for as I do, you will see just how amazing it was that Israel actually "halted" the activity of this great city just by their presence!  

First, its location was in the western part of the Jordan valley just above the Dead Sea.  It was known as the city of palms because it was filled with the trees.  For anyone to pass through the valley of Jordan, they had to first pass through Jericho.  It was like a natural "toll station" for all travelers of the time.  

Second, its fortifications were massive.  The outside "city wall" was six-feet thick, separated by a space of about twelve feet from the inner wall which was double the thickness of the outer wall.  For those who would attempt to lay siege to this great city, over 18 feet of thick stone awaited them!  The most impressive part of the walls were their height - over thirty feet high.  So, in total, two walls, one six by thirty feet, the other twelve by thirty!  

Our understanding is there were some homes between the two walls, but the greatest amount of homes were inside the second wall.  Probably some merchants and some of the soldiers who defended this great city lived in the outer wall homes.  These were made of something similar to what we'd call adobe brick these days - sod and grass packed so tightly as to give them great endurance against the elements and insulation against the heat.  

What makes the story most amazing is "how" the walls came down.  Yesterday, if you read my blog, you will recall us learning a little bit about the idea of the power of our words.  Israel surrounded Jericho, for a period of six days without uttering even one word!  They'd walk around the city, just as one unified group of people, but silent - not a peep heard.  Imagine being one of the guards on the great wall of Jericho, seeing this huge group of immigrants from Egypt, marching around in silence!  You'd probably thought they'd lost their marbles!

If you were going to lay siege to a city this fortified, I imagine you'd expect to see Joshua commanding the troops to begin to muster their weapons, sharpen their swords, and erect some catapults to launch some stones of warfare against this might fortress.  The guards on the city wall did not see any of this kind of activity, so imagine their surprise, and the surprise of the inhabitants of this city when all of a sudden on the seventh day the people of Israel erupted in a shout!  At first, I imagine they giggled to themselves, thinking this group of "cowards" had lost their minds.  Then, almost quicker than they could gather their own senses, the walls began to shake!  What seemed like pretty solid footing -  a rock-solid defense - became the undoing of a city!

The power of a word spoken in the right time, in the right frame of mind, with the backing of God - now there's a "rocking" offense!  As they shouted in one unified voice, God's presence going before them, they began to see first one stone fall to the ground, then another, until the wall was nothing more than a flattened mound unable to protect even a mouse!  

There is much the story of Jericho can teach us.  First, the power of obedience.  I imagine Joshua met more than a few glaring looks from his Israelite companions when he shared the idea of circling this great city with nothing more than the presence of God before them and their "silent" marching for six days!  And then he asked for seven laps on the seventh!  Yet, they did it!  They submitted to the plan of God - obedience in action is a powerful tool.  

Second, the power of our silence.  I imagine this six days gave the Israelites many opportunities to focus on the one out front - God himself!  The priests were carrying the "ark of the covenant".  The ark was the place where God "connected" with his people - the place of his presence.  So, as they circled, he led the way!  The power of God's presence in the right perspective in our lives is something we'd all do well to learn - him first, us second.

Last, but not least, I want us to consider the power of praise.  I don't believe they broke their silence in just "words" without meaning.  The scripture tells us, "...they gave a thunderclap shout."  They had marched around the city seven times on the seventh day - then culminated the seventh "lap" with this huge thunderclap shout.  I'd like to think the shout they lifted was one of praise - for they were focused on what God was about to do!  The lips of God's people would do well to be silent when silence is the best plan - then to thunder loudly when praise is about to bring the walls down!

Sometimes it is nice to revisit some of our Old Testament stories just to see the lessons God provided as a memorial for us to learn from.  Now, consider the walls of defense you face today.  Obedience, silence, and praise - let them be your offense against those walls!  Just sayin!

When silence speaks loudly

When have you been more impressed by what someone did NOT say than the many times you have actually heard someone say MUCH about the subject?  In fact, when we see someone enduring much pressure and they choose to not say anything ill about another or to stand in strength against the attacks of others, we marvel.  It does happen, just not as often as would probably be appropriate.  It just does not come naturally for us to NOT defend ourselves.  When we feel threatened, or misunderstood, what is the first thing we do?  We "rise up" to defend our reputation, or to make ourselves known, don't we? 

At dawn's first light, the high priests, with the religious leaders and scholars, arranged a conference with the entire Jewish Council. After tying Jesus securely, they took him out and presented him to Pilate.  Pilate asked him, "Are you the 'King of the Jews'?"  He answered, "If you say so." The high priests let loose a barrage of accusations.  Pilate asked again, "Aren't you going to answer anything? That's quite a list of accusations." Still, he said nothing. Pilate was impressed, really impressed.  (Mark 15:1-4 The Message)

Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.  (Proverbs 10:19 NIV)

In another translation, this passage from Proverbs reads that when there is a whole lot of talking, there is likely less truth.  The wise learn to "measure" their words - they learn when it is wise to speak and when silence speaks louder than any words!  Now, I don't know about you, but my struggle comes in learning how to balance the two - silence and words.  The only thing I have found to be true is when I give full vent to my thoughts (through words), I often regret the words I speak!

Jesus was railed upon by the leaders - hurling all manner of accusation upon him from the untruth that he was from Satan to the fact he was on this earth to overthrow the Roman Empire.  Yet, he chose to use silence to speak the truth sometimes more than he used the "speeches" of a man defending his actions!  If you have read scripture much, you have come across the story of the woman caught in the act of adultery.  She is drug to the camp of Jesus one day by the leaders of the temple.  They "show off" her sinfulness by telling Jesus they caught her in the very act!  There she stands, humiliated not only once, but multiple times.  What was his response?

He chose to squat down, in silence, drawing something in the dust on the ground.  Imagine the outrage building in the minds of the religious leaders at that moment.  They were likely saying to themselves, "See...he is too weak to even deal with this blatant deed of sinfulness!!!"  All the while, Jesus allowed them to "build up" their steam over this issue.  Then in one moment of well prepared words, he simply states, "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."  Then he returns to doodling in the dust.  

Put yourself there.  You have a full head of steam worked up, then get this bomb dropped on you!  Drat!  There you are - ready for a good stoning - then just as quickly as you got caught up in the frenzy of the crowd, you get "called out" for your action - not by a multitude of words, but by one simple statement.  Double Drat!  If you know the rest of the story, then you know the crowd of "worked up" leaders disperse one-by-one and Jesus is left alone with the woman.  He says nothing else to them.  He neither defends their actions, nor does he seek to give a lengthy rationale for the deed they intend to carry out.

There is often more conviction in what is NOT said!  They were undone by one wisely spoken statement and a whole lot of silence!  Jesus listened to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  He knew the best way of teaching forgiveness was not going to be to "convince" the crowd through a dissertation on the will of God.  Instead, he chose to allow them to "boil" a little until they were good and worked up.  Then...as quickly as they built their outrage, he undoes it with simply spoken words!

As we look at Jesus before Pilate, Jesus did answer him - with one simple statement - "If you say so".  Yet, look at the reaction of the crowd - they hurled accusations even louder.  The thing I don't want us to miss is how easy it is to get caught up in the "herd mentality"!  We may not really have a "side" in the matter, but in short order, because of the fact words can incite us more easily than we think, we can find ourselves caught up!  Jesus' response - silence.  

Pilate was more impressed with his silence when his accusers hurled these accusations than anything else.  I wonder if Jesus was more impressed with the woman's shame over her sinful deed than he was with the railings of the religious leaders?  Maybe her silence spoke more to him than rantings of the crowd...

In thinking about this today, I have asked the Holy Spirit to make me more sensitive about my words.  My goal is to know when I am getting caught up into the "herd mentality" and allowing this to affect my actions.  I want to learn to be wise in my words - to really learn that wisdom is often more evident in the silence than in the multitude of my words!  Maybe you are with me in this journey.  If so, I am praying for you!  May our silence speak as loudly, or louder, than our words!

Silence speaks volumes

^1-2 Silence is praise to you, Zion-dwelling God, and also obedience.
      You hear the prayer in it all. 

(Psalm 65:1-2)

The "prayer in it all" is the key to this verse - God hears both our silence and our spoken word - but don't forget the third thing he "hears" - our obedience.  Silence is the absence of sound or noise - when there is a "perfect stillness" we call that an absence of motion.  We often don't think we have made a connection with God unless we are able to experience the noise or movement of that connection (like when we cry out loud or lift our hearts in worship).

Our psalmist reminds us that silence is praise!  Even in the quietness of waiting in his presence, we praise our God.  It is a difficult thing to do sometimes, but when we actually do stop long enough to simply admire him, we connect with him in new ways!  

He also reminds us that our obedience is also praise to God.  We rarely equate obedience to praise - but God does!  Obedience is submission to the control of another - who better to have in control of our lives than Jesus?  God's control is sometimes more rewarding when we just "hush" long enough to enjoy it!

God hears the "prayer" in it all - even in silence, prayers are lifted.  It is important to remember that prayers are more than words that are spoken.  God knows us intimately and he connects with us in the silence.  Maybe this is because this is where he is best able to see the submissiveness of our hearts!

The next verses give us a little insight into how we actually approach God:

^2-3 We all arrive at your doorstep sooner or later, loaded with guilt, 

   Our sins too much for us— but you get rid of them once and for all. 

(Psalm 65:2-3)

We all "arrive" at his doorstep - no one is exempt.  Some of us come to his doorstep willingly - others kicking and screaming.  Still others come before him with the awfulness of not knowing him!  The fact is that no one is exempt!  We are drawn to his doorstep - through his love.  That "doorstep" is a destination with a purpose - but the journey is unique to each individual that comes.

Our psalmist tells us that it is "sooner or later" that we all arrive - I think we'd do much better if we'd listen to his invitation SOONER!  We'd save ourselves a tons of issues, loads of guilt, and a boat-load of disappointments if we'd come to him sooner!  We arrive "loaded" down - carrying more than any one person was ever meant to carry.  We are loaded down, burdened under the weight of our guilt, sins too much for us to handle.

We don't even "arrive" in good shape!  How would you feel if every time the Fed Ex driver came to your door the package was dented, dinged, and damaged?  You'd probably dread opening the door!  Not Jesus!  We come to him with our full load of blame and condemnation, probably not fully aware of the violations in our conduct, but sensing the associated guilt all the while.  We were never meant to bear the guilt of our sin - the cross did that.  We are just meant to lay that guilt down, walking away free in his presence.

The awesome part is that Jesus answers the door!  Completely, thoroughly, and without a trace of evidence that our sin ever existed, he embraces us!  Too bad that we struggle with "memory disease" - remembering all that he has already forgotten in his love and grace toward us!  We arrive in pretty miserable shape - he "re-shapes" us by his touch!  

If you think your silence is not praise - think again.  If you think your obedience doesn't matter - rethink that one.  If you think you are "too far gone" for anyone to love and accept you - think again!  Jesus envelopes our silence, relishes in our obedience, and welcomes us into his graces.  We are truly a blessed people!