Into the Fire

. . . what you get.” But what do you see anyway? Sometimes I think it’s more a case of “What you hear is what you get.”

If you see an individual with purple spiked hair, several pierced places on the body, inked designs displayed for view and alluding to hidden areas as well, chances are you’re going to make assumptions as to the person’s values, attitudes, and/or character.

If you see an individual on a bicycle in black slacks with a white shirt and black tie, most of us will piece together what we know of a particular religion and attach it to the young men riding those bikes.

If you see a man in an expensive suit with a designer briefcase who seems to carry himself with an air of importance, most people will also assign certain possible occupations to the guy.

Who knows if anyone will make the right assumptions by simply seeing these people? The young men on the bikes hold the most likely odds for correct evaluations. The other individuals get viewed with pre-conditioned responses. If someone despises body piercing, tattoos, and any punk-ish replications, the usual immediate reaction is disdain with an attachment of criticism for the character of the person based on what is visibly displayed. If someone else resents corporate types, lawyers, or anyone else who effuses money in their appearance, the same disdain and negative evaluation will surface upon that first glance. And even viewing the kids on bicycles peddling their cult beliefs will arouse disdain or dislike from some.

If that individual with spiked hair and the like spews out f-bombs in casual conversation while sneering at passers-by, well . . . if someone didn’t have a negative to reaction to his decorative attire, the behavior might inspire a not so favorable reaction.

The young men on the bicycles will inevitably be polite in their desire to indoctrinate, but chances are some people will only be offended by their proposals without being offended at their personas.

If the well-dressed man demonstrates a snobbish or curt reply to the simplest of greetings, he will inevitably be downgraded to not so complimentary status by the average person who’s just trying to be cordial.

Words do great or horrible things. They encourage or they damage. They bring laughter or elicit tears. No matter what your appearance might be, your words will ultimately define you. And when you contemplate another individual, so often what you hear is what you get. Cruelty? Comfort? Lies? Truth? Deceit? Integrity?

Do your words match your appearance? Do they supersede how you look?

When writers write, they tell so much about themselves. Their worldview is present somewhere in the story. And because of how they write, readers will determine if the worldview, the ways of those words, will captivate them. It’s not a simple thing to write a novel. As in all written words, communication must be accurate. Whether funny or sad, dangerous or frightening, thoughtful or profound, the written words speak about the author of those words. The readers hear those words and either choose to listen or choose to disregard.

So . . . sometimes what you “hear” is what you get.

Father, your words are true. Inarguable. We need your Truth. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.