The Journey of Words

     The old man walks to the gathering place and is pleased to see so many friends already seated, waiting to share words. He has chosen carefully of his lesson today. Words! There is so much he wishes to say to them.
     "Greetings to all," he says happily as he takes his seat. "I hope the day finds you all well!"
     He hears the murmurs of positive responses and"smiles. "Today we shall share thoughts about Words," he says and anticipates the question that is to come.
     "Words, Sir? What is there to be said about them?" a young woman asks and a chuckle is heard rippling through the audience. Those who have known many years know the significance of today's lesson.
     "There is much that could be said, my child, but today's lesson will not be overly long. This lesson will be one of thought and reflection, one of looking inside yourselves for that is where words are born," he says and pauses while these first words settle gently upon them.
     He begins to speak, "Words! How important they are! How significant can be their messages! How hurtful they can become! Words are created by those who speak them and it is the speaker who determines the journey the words take. We were given the freedom to speak our thoughts but sometimes forget the responsibility this freedom carries with it."
     He pauses t collect his thoughts once more and then continues, "The words we speak, the words we write, and even the words found in the thoughts we hold onto ourselves hold much power. They have the power to heal but also have the power to harm. They possess the power to charm as well as the power to stain the world with hatred and prejudice. They can be remembered for their wisdom or live in infamy for their negativity and faithlessness. They can mean everything but they can also be worthless. Words will always be subject to another's interpretation so we must be ever mindful of those we choose. They echo long after they have been spoken or the ink with which they were written has faded away. The joy they bring or the hurt caused will outlive the words themselves for there will be other journeys for words to embark upon."
     "Sir, are you saying that freedom of speech is not really a true freedom?" a young man asks in confusion.
     "No, my son, I am not saying that. It is a true freedom but it should be used not to harm or defame. This is not what our Creator would wish for us to do. Always remember that others have the right to speak their words also and may they too use this right with wisdom and much thought. We may not agree with another's words but we must give them the right to speak them,' he says and though he tries not to let sadness creep into his voic, he knows it has.
     An older man speaks up. "It is a sad thing," the man says, "when words are not used with kindness but it would be sadder still if words are not used at all. We must all attempt to guide our young ones to use words wisely and with respect for themselves and others, but more importantly for the words themselves. And those of us who have known many years must never forget as well."
     "I could not have said this more wisely. Thank you, my friend," he acknowledges the older man's worth and to the gathered he says, "Please go forth and remember your elder's words for they are wise indeed. Remember the Creator's gift. Remember the dignity you hold within yourselves. Remember the consequences of misused words but also remember the loss of words never spoken. Believe in words. Cherish them. Treat them as you would your fellow man, with the same care as you would wish to be treated," the old man says as he begins to rise.
     He pauses and adds quietly, "It has been said that one word can change the world. The choices we make will determine if this change is a good one or one we will regret."
     "Sir, are you saying that our freedoms of choice and speech walk together?" a young woman asks.
     "All of our freedoms walk together with each other, my child, and we must keep this knowledge in our heart and soul. Before we let words spill, we should give them much thought for their journeys will be long and we will not be able to change them once the journeys have begun," the old man says and, after bidding them all farewell, walks away leaving them to their own thoughts.
     "One word can change the world," he hears the whisper of the Creator. The old man cannot help but smile when he hears the Creator also say, "Indeed!"