| “What you are speaks so loudly I can’t hear what you say.” |
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"Who you are speaks so loudly I cannot hear what you say."
I'd say some of the most incredible words of Ralph Waldo Emerson. And as I sit here and ponder this, I begin to wonder... Is who we are speaking so loudly to the world around us, that that is the reason that they aren't hearing what we say (The Message)? Have you ever felt like you are talking to someone and they are listening, but they aren't hearing you?
Hmmm?...
The results of a research done by Robert Mehrabian’s concluded that:
Our Word messages – what we say – account for a merely 7% of what people believe.
Our Tone of voice messages – how we say it – only account for 38% of what is believed.
Our Non-verbal messages – what is seen – account for an incredible 55% of what a listener will believe.
Parents tell their children “Do what I say, not what I do.” But to a child, words are but merely words. Thats it! Just as when parents tell their children this, it is somewhat hypocritical, wouldn't you agree? Yes, at times parents are only trying to keep their kids from the same difficulties that they have endured, but.. Kids barely even hear those words because day in and day out they are watching what their parents do…and what the parents are doing is shouting loudly above what they are saying. “Do what I say, not what I do.” Christianity? Or are we "living a lifestyle worthy of the calling that which you have recieved?" We are to love the un-lovely, feed the hungry, help the poor, comfort the afflicted, be-friend the friendless, heal the sick, etc. Are you, am I, are we, as a body doing what we are shouting to the world is the right thing to do? Are we walking the walk we so passionately share with the world is the right path? In Romans we are told "Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking." Do you fit in without even a thought?
Equating this to an evangelism principle, Our life message has the greatest impact in paving the way for us to deliver the Gospel message in words. (Roger Ailes wrote a book entitled, You Are The Message.) His book is about mastering the art of communication, but title summarizes it well - the messenger is the message. Obviously the power is in the message, but the power within the message cannot be released if the messenger doesn't share it... If i won't He'll find someone else who will. (Thats how I think of it.)
Basically, the effectiveness of what we say relies most on the character of the messenger than on the content of the message. “What you are speaks so loudly I can’t hear what you say.”
What message are you speaking with What you are? And are you really even saying anything at all? Individually? And as a whole body?
Just some thoughts from my brain... |
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