Words

Recently I watched the movie A Thousand Words with Eddie Murphy,

from International Movie Database {IMDB} Jack McCall (Eddie Murphy) is a literary agent who uses his mouth to get various book deals, and isn’t afraid to stretch the truth to get them. While trying to get a book deal from a new-age self-help guru named Dr. Sinja (Cliff Curtis), the Boddhi tree sees through the lies and curses Jack by magically appearing in his backyard with 1000 leaves. Jack was sent a catalogue by Dr. Sinja and demands an explanation also include the Boddhi Tree. Dr. Sinja goes to Jack's house and explains that for every word that Jack says, a leaf will fall off of the tree. When the tree runs out of leaves, the tree will die, along with Jack. In time, he finds that even written words count towards his limit, plus anything that happens to the Tree will also affect Jack. With Jack forced to pick and choose his words, communicating with others becomes difficult and full of misunderstandings. These misunderstandings cost him two book deals, his job, and his wife. Only Jacks assistant Aaron realizes he is telling the truth, and goes to Jacks house to keep track of how many leaves are remaining. With his life falling apart and the tree running out of leaves, Jack goes to Dr. Sinja and asks how to end the curse. The guru tells him to make peace with all of his relationships.

When Sinja offers advice to Jack, it sounds a lot like the sort of thing we'd hear from any competent shrink or pastor: Resolve your past issues. Make amends with the people you love. Show them - don't just tell them - how much they mean to you.

When he's on his last few leaves, Jack decides to use them accordingly … on the people he cares for. In the context of this strange little film, these words become sacrificial acts - ones that march him closer to his own end. But they mean the world to those he gives them to. And there's something to be {ahem} said for that.

Normally I don’t care for his movies since they are usually sexually explicit, vulgar and full of profanities. However this movie was good and it got me to thinking.. …

Words matter.

We all know this, but it's easy to forget. They're free, after all. We worry about running out of gas or cash or patience, but words? Our consonants and vowels are inexhaustible. We spew countless combinations during the course of the day in debates and arguments and joking water cooler chatter and emails and texts.

Many of those words will be forgotten almost as soon as they're uttered or typed. But most of us probably have a handful of conversations locked away in our memories that we'll never forget—conversations that changed our lives. They mean something, and we should never forget their power.

A Thousand Words reminds us of the treasure that is language - the ability words have to build or destroy, to embrace or reject. Talking shouldn't be something we do when our tongues are bored. We should speak when we have something to say.

James 1:19 instructs us to be “quick to listen” and “slow to speak.” Proverbs 29:20 says, “Do you see a someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”

Last words anyone?

Blessings