I was prompted to write this contribution on the day my daily Bible reading “Verse of the day” was from James 1:19. “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry”. Amazingly, my wife quoted this same verse (from a Prayer Guide) as we sat at the breakfast table for our family Bible reading.
A few days earlier, following the arrival of Andy Burnham at No. 10 Downing Street, some unkind comments were made about his wife and the dress she was wearing. This resulted in criticism of people referred to as “keyboard warriors”. The combination of these two separate events made me realise how easily I fall into both areas. What I might consider to be “righteous anger” may result in typing a quick response on social media pages.
As a family, in England and the USA, at least 6 or more of us regularly participate in a computer link. Sometimes it is difficult “to get a word in,” and we jokingly say we need to raise our hand if we want to say something, or even use the hand facility on the link. There are occasions when I have something “important” to say, but don’t get the opportunity straight away, and so the moment passes, and I may forget what was so important to contribute. The blessing is that nobody else in the group is aware of what has not been said, and usually, on reflection, it has either been said by someone else, or was not that important after all.
I am aware, at least in theory, that I need to heed the warning in today’s text to reduce my “keyboard warrior” input on social media, and also know Divine wisdom in any contribution that I want to make. My email has the facility of cancelling a sent email within 30 seconds, and possibly I need to “count to 30” before contributing in any way. Easier said than done. But I must try.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the warnings and guidance you share with us in the Bible. Please remind us regularly whenever we forget. AMEN