Speaking - When Action is Given to Words

In balance of the valuing words versus action, speaking aloud draws on the power of both.  Verbalizing our words gives action to them.  Words can do more than just describe the way things are.  Words have the power to change the way things are.  Blessings and curses used to be much more widely regarded as carrying weight and power, not just predicting the future, but moving it a certain direction.  While we usually see them in writing, like the ones recorded in the Bible, they were originally always spoken aloud, adding weight to what was being said.

From a certain perspective, I am probably viewed as someone who rarely talks, but others who I am more comfortable around may occasionally wish I would shut up, or at least slow down.  In most situations I listen more than I speak, and I aim to keep it that way.  You aren't learning anything when you are the one talking.

I have definitely been known to leave a lot of things in life unsaid, preferring to communicate many things primarily through my actions.  I am pretty good at doing that, but I probably should not lean so heavily on that means of communication, since it will only get you so far.  Words are a clearer, method of communication, less likely to be completely misinterpreted.  While it is harder to lie or deceive with our actions than our words, it is still possible.  It is better for our actions to punctuate our words, than for our words to punctuate our actions.

Words can be written down, but that is not the same as speaking them out loud.  I am someone who finds it easiest to express himself in writing. (I even find it easier to express things to myself in writing, hence these posts)  But this may cause me to miss out on the potential power accessed by speaking things out verbally.

And I am just beginning to learn about the effect that words can have in the spiritual realm.  It is unclear whether our thoughts can be perceived by spiritual beings, but it is widely accepted that our words can.  That is an important aspect of prayer, and while I usually prefer to pray silently, since I have no doubt that God knows our thoughts, I may undervalue praying verbally.  Even outside of the Christian perspective on the spiritual world, there is a pattern linking the power in magic to the spoken word.  The stereotypical image of a witch stewing her cauldron isn't about reciting the "magic thoughts," and casting spells is always portrayed as being based on speaking the correct words aloud.

So speaking our words out loud can add a certain weight and strength to what we are saying.  Words written down have no inflection or volume, so more can be communicated using the same exact words if they are spoken aloud.  But this leads to further need to take care in what we are saying, since words have power, especially in that form.