Rumors.

"Trying to squash a rumor is like trying to unring a bell."

-Shana Alexander

"Why is it so much easier to believe something bad than something good?"

-Beryl Pfizer

"There is no such thing as an 'idle' rumor. Rumors are always busy."

-F. G. Kernan

"What dainty morsels rumors are--but they sink deep into one's heart."

-Proverbs 18:8 NLT

There are twenty-four verses in Proverbs 18 and thirteen of those verses have to do with the way we talk. I'm wondering if we'll ever get away from this subject as we travel through Proverbs. Do you suppose God had something specific in mind as he authored Proverbs? Could be!

Whenever I hear the word rumor I immediately think about a pastor in a small town in windy North Dakota. One particular day he discovered that the town gossip was a faithful member of his church, served on the mission board, and even sang soprano in the church choir. It became obvious as another of his members, who was being victimized by the brutal tongue of this woman, sat in his office in tears. The pastor counseled, prayed, and tried his best to offer positive encouragement.

Later that day, the pastor did what he knew had to be done. He met and spoke at length with the town gossip, prayed with her, and arranged for a meeting later in the afternoon. The meeting was a strange one indeed--the gossip was to meet the pastor in the town square and she was to bring with her . . . one feather pillow. And she did.

As the two met in the square the pastor had only one request of the gossip. She was to take the pillow, rip it open, and shake the contents into the North Dakota wind. Confused, but obedient, the gossip did as requested only to see a whirlwind of feathers soar upward and then fall as snow all over the small town.

The pastor then said, "That's the first half of my request. Meet me here tomorrow afternoon for the second half."

The following day the pastor met the gossip, handed her the pillow cover she had emptied the previous afternoon and told her, "Now pick up all the feathers and put them back in your pillow."

The gossip, partly shocked but already seeing the lesson she so desperately needed said, "Pastor, I cannot do that. They've gone all over town, into houses and shops, from the sidewalks to the treetops, I'll never get them all back again." And she was absolutely right. She wept for she knew her words and rumors carelessly tossed about like those feathers in the wind could never be retrieved. Like those feathers, her gossip and hateful rumors would only disappear with time. Still, there would always be reminders as an occasional feather would float by.

Advice from Psalm 34:12-13, "Do any of you want to live a life that is long and good? Then watch your tongue! Keep your lips from telling lies!"

We can take back the words but we can't take back the wounds.

Ouch!