The Power of Words
Photo by Ronak Valobobhai on Unsplash
I believe in the power of words.
Without words we would have no language... and no conscious awareness of thought.
Years ago, after a series of devastating events, including the deaths of loved ones, I stopped believing in prayer. I figured there was no point, especially since my prayers weren’t unanswered.
What brought me back to prayer, and to God, is a long story that I won't get into here. Suffice it to say, now I pray again and even more so when devastating events occur.
A few weeks ago, I heard three words that stopped me in my tracks though: prayers never die. My first reaction was to scoff. How can that possibly be true with so much conflict, horror, and pain in the world?
But the more I mulled it over, the more I began to wonder: what if it is true? What if prayers don't ever die? Could prayers be one of the most powerful ways to use our words? If so, do I not have a responsibility to pray for my family, my friends, and the world?
Accordingly, with a hope that defies logic, I will continue to pray.
I will pray for those trapped in over 110 armed conflicts around the world which are in more than 25% of all countries, specifically in:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia is occupying parts of Nagorno Karabakh (Azerbaijan), Bangladesh, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, the Central African Republic (CAR), Chad, Colombia, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Georgia (Abkhazia), Ghana, Haiti, India, (plus between India and China and between India and Pakistan ), Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Kenya, Lebanon, Libya, Moldova (Transdniestria), Mali, Mexico, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Palestine, and The Philippines, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, South Ossetia, South Sudan and Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine (international and non-international), the United States, Venezuela, Western Sahara, and Yemen.
(Note: the United States is included due to its annual number of gun-related deaths.)
I'll continue to pray for peace.
I'll pray for the end of violence. I'll pray for the end of all types of abuse. I'll pray for healing, individually and globally.
I'll pray for family, friends, and colleagues.
I'll pray for every person living in an unsafe environment due to abuse, addiction, armed conflict, hunger, instability and violence.
I'll pray, even when I'm in despair and everything seems hopeless. Because I often do ask, in despair, what can I do? What can I possibly do to shift the needle even a little bit? And that's when a whisper reminds me of small ways people make the world a better place. I'm reminded of how kindness and consideration and a willingness to listen go a very long way. Then, I remind myself that a small pebble dropped in the ocean still creates a ripple. And the more ripples we can create the better; because, eventually, enough ripples will create a wave. And apathy cannot usher in the Light.
Speaking of ripples turning into a wave, in 2018, the group Koolulam harnessed the power of song (aka words set to music) in an inspiring way. 3,000 Palestinians and Israelis (all strangers) came together to sing a message of hope in Arabic, English, and Hebrew. It's called One Day. The video brought me to tears when I first saw it and it still does today.
Art is powerful (dance, music, visual arts, performing arts, storytelling, all creative arts). Creating is powerful. Our imaginations are powerful.
There's power in our thoughts. There's power in our actions. There's power in coming together.
There's power in our prayers. Power in our words.
Words inspire. Words enrage. Words soothe.
Words diminish. Words foment fear. Words encourage.
Words manipulate. Words invigorate. Words motivate.
Words can heal and words can destroy.
Words are powerful... and hope is too.
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