The Decline of Good Conversation

Verse of the Day:

Matthew 18:12

"If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?"

The Book Definition of Conversation according to Merriam-Webster dictionary online:

a (1) oral exchange of sentiments, observations, or ideas

(2) an instance of such exchange: TALK

b an informal discussion of an issue by representatives of governments, institutions, or groups

c an exchange similar to conversation

Now that we have those formalities out of the way, I'll be frank, the quality of open discussions and conversations from the most controversial to the most mundane has dropped significantly from 2020 to now. This counts for both in person and online interactions. The "hot topics" for the past few years have been

1. all men and women are (insert insulting generalization of an entire sex here)

2. blatant hostility towards different ethnic groups based on the choices of a few from said group

3. I can have any man or woman I want based on (A,B,C)

4. Gender ideology

5. radicalization of basic human rights and humane treatment

6. race.....its always about race.....

7. social labels

8. the peculiar need to have something wrong with you in order to validate

   unhealthy behaviors.

9. living vicariously through the affairs of the wealthy, famous and infamous (ie. did you hear that so and so cheated on her?, couldn't be me.....)

   
   

   Now, one could argue that a group of civilized human beings could take one of these topics and have respectable conversation....only thing is, some people have a special and unique way of taking the depth and meaning away from social interactions that could have otherwise been meaningful and insightful. You may say "that depends on who you're talking to.." you are correct, and the people I've talked to these past few years, and those I've listened to online have taken a few years from my life due to the lack luster and otherwise infuriating nature in which they choose to converse with me. NONE of this is to say that every discussion with me has to be as deep as the Mariana trench, but LORD, give me something with substance.

I'm not sure if this is just me becoming a granny, but there's just no life to the things I hear nowadays....of course there's always rare pearls in the sea, and small pocket communities that have developed a strong Socratic circle of like minded individuals. In spite of the conversation calamity that looms over our media, there's still good people who produce wholesome content and share meaningful words of wisdom and food for thought, I'm not denying this, and it's always a joy to participate when I have the chance.

I suppose my frustrations are partially because for most of my life, I kept my words to myself and the only person I felt who wanted to hear me was God. Everything I hoped, everything I dreamed, and everything I loved and hated is a journal entry somewhere. Becoming an educator was my first step to verbal liberation....so I didn't have to live in my head so much anymore...I loved talking to my co-teachers and students....When I finally started publishing my work, it was as if a heavy chain had broken from me.....I was free to express myself for the good of what words could be used for. It's something that I pray about constantly: That my words and thoughts be for good and that they are purposeful and right in the eyes of my heavenly father.

I need people to understand that the content of what we say and think, builds what we believe and shape who we are as people. It's IMPORTANT that we don't waste our words on foolishness just because they're available.

Ephesians 4:29

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up."

Colossians 4:6

"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."

Matthew 12: 37

"The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you."

For believers, it'll never be "small talk" with us, and I'm the type of person that recognizes that before I was flesh, I was spirit and right now, as I live and breathe, I am having a human experience. All I want is to make it a worthy one.

Let's discuss: How do YOU feel about today's choices of conversation and how people communicate? comment below and remember...

"For the love of life and the pursuit of art and literature, stay prayerful and write on!"