A few words spoken consciously

[Guest guest]

A few words spoken thoughtlessly have the power to crush a heart more completely than were a whole mountain to fall in upon it. A few words spoken as lies in a moment's time can create lines of fear or regret capable of spanning

an entire lifetime. And yet... a few words spoken consciously in truth or kindness can transform the aspiring soul and even change the whole world. Guy Finley ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ The Sufis advise us to speak only after our words have managed to pass through three gates: 1. At the first gate we ask ourselves, "Are these words true?" If so we let them pass through. If not, back they go. You don't even get to the second gate. But if they’re true…. 2. At the second gate we ask "Are they necessary?" If not, back they go. You don't even get to the third gate. But if they’re

necessary…. 3. At the last gate, we ask "Are they kind?" If so, you may speak the words at last. Otherwise, you choose silence instead of words. ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ "If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow." _ Chinese proverb ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ "Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you can help them become what they are capable of being." _ Goethe ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ The moving finger writes; and, having writ, Moves on: nor all thy Piety nor Wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a line, Nor all thy Tears wash out a word of it. "Rubaiyat of Khayyam" ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ Let us choose our words with care for we share in the life that our words create. Ramona