"DITHERING"

            That’s a word everyone loves to throw around these days.  The word “dither” means to hesitate, waste time, vacillate, or hem and haw.  In spite of our microwave society of quick fix solutions, taking the time to think through what ramifications our words might have can be prudent.   Last night, when news came that a national security announcement was going to be made, everyone was impatient and on edge.   As usual, the President was criticized for taking his dear sweet time to announce to the world that Osama Bin Laden had been killed.  This morning it wasn’t long before people were postulating about his second guessing. 

            Proverbs 21:23 reminds us to “watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble,” (NLT.)  Proverbs 13:3 states: “whoever keeps his mouth preserves his life.    Proverbs 18:21 says, “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.”  Finally who could forget Proverbs 29:20, “Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?  There is more hope for a fool than for him.”  

            Of course we all eventually have to make decisions about what we are going to say and how we say it, but it would seem practical to weigh our words closely with the effect they will have on our hearer(s).   Here’s a timely quote from Alexander Pope: “Words are like leaves and where they most abound, much fruit of sense beneath is seldom found.”   Let’s guard our speech.  Have a good night!