Tuesday, July 13th, 2021
You can find unusual people in offbeat places who serve as spiritual partners. I have an African American spiritual guide named Ricco in the Wright County Jail. I look forward to our visits when I come into the jail Monday afternoons as a chaplain. We share our spiritual insights, but I think I learn more from him than he does from me.
Here’s the insight he gave to me yesterday that I want to share with you. “Pat, you need to be careful with the words you choose when interacting with other people. The power of the words you use battle what else is being said. The words that come out of your mouth can be sweet reflections of God’s grace within you or be swords that cause damage. Choose your words carefully and use them to encourage and educate, not accuse or hurt. Remember always that your words fight for dominance with all the other words that are being said by people who may seek only to promote themselves or their points of view. You need to be different from them. You need to let the Holy Spirit guide you as to what to say and when. Only in that way can you be a reflection of Christ within you.”
I could write a book called The Wisdom of Ricco. Maybe I will.