Sitting at breakfast, I often ponder the potential activities of the day, and then assess my ambition. What do I hope to accomplish, and do I have the energy to do it? Usually, I will come to some resolution before I take my dishes to the sink and head for the shower. If not, the shower often clears the head of cobwebs and indecision, and motivates me, as it cleans the rest of the body.
But thats only the first step; thinking Im going to do a task. Perhaps something unexpected interrupts my plans. An old friend is in the neighborhood and wants to stop and visit. Or perhaps it starts to rain just as Im about to weed the garden. Or my wife takes the car to run her errand and my errand is put on hold. Or perhaps a phone call reminds me of a meeting that afternoon, that changes all the order of my day, and has me developing a new schedule.
Thinking about it is always the first step in any activity. Even though I know I will always have Cream of Wheat five days a week for breakfast, I always think about it as I reach for the package on top of the cupboard. I suppose that some things can become so integrated into the pattern of our lives they just happen without much thought. Even so, it all began with thought!
The next step in any process is verbalizing the intention. Thought, then word! Im always careful not to tell my wife what I intend to do unless Im committed to doing it. Thinking Ill wash and vacuum the car is one thing. Actually committing myself to doing it is another. If I say Im going to clean the car, she will hold me to it; even finding the chamois and putting it in my hands.
Of course, one can always back out of something we say. Perhaps it was said in haste or under pressure from another. Perhaps it was uttered in anger or disgust. We cant always control our emotions and we often blurt out things we dont really mean. We simply need to be careful it doesnt naturally evolve into step three.
Thinking something is step one. Saying something about it is usually step two. Doing something about it is step three. Now that Ive thought about washing the car, mentioned it to my wife, its highly unlikely I can get out of it. I said I would do it, out loud, in the presence of another. I need to follow through or risk being a liar or labelled untrustworthy or a blowhard.
Or perhaps the deed must be done simply as a matter of self respect. A person reasons: I thought about committing this act of violence, mentioned I wanted to do it on the internet; now I need to carry it out! One wonders if some of our recent political assassins went through this thought process, or if their minds were so psychologically damaged, reasoning was not possible.
The important thing for all of us is remembering the flow from thought to word to deed. Should we find ourselves thinking ill of another, even voicing it out loud, we need to find a corrective before we carry out a despicable deed. There is not much space or insulation between the three. They flow easily from one to the other.
It makes me wonder if anything good can come from our president calling some of us scum, or vermin, or garbage. Perhaps he thinks that about many, but one seriously begins to worry when he starts verbalizing it for his followers. Even if he doesnt act on it, actually do the deed and cleanse the country of the vermin, his followers might. Who wants to live around scum and vermin? Garbage belongs in the dump!
Thoughts matter! Words matter! Deeds matter! If we cant control and moderate our thoughts, it is unlikely we will moderate our speech, and our deeds will reflect them both.
The biblical record is clear. Sin is found in thought, word and deed. We are called to love God and our neighbor. Let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth.
And the idea of the Last Judgment, in all the western prophetic traditions, holds that God judges thoughts, words and deeds; all three.
It takes commitment and intention to rid our hearts and minds of violence and hatred! We would be wise to search and find positive thoughts about others we disagree with, even offering encouraging and helpful words; and at our best, offering the love and support the neighbor needs.
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