Twenty plus years ago I was privileged to have an extended
conversation with Henri Nouwen about Jesus’ words in Matthew 12:34. “Out of the
abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” As I was wrestling with speaking to
my then seven year old son, Henri said, “If you want to know what is going on
in your heart, listen to what you say when you speak before you think.” This line
has become a powerful touchstone for my personal spiritual journey and for my
pastoral ministry. I have added: and what you stop yourself from saying if you
catch yourself in time.
In the turmoil and exchanged accusations of the past
presidential campaign and the aftermath of the election, I have said and heard
others say things such as, “I don’t know what is in that person’s heart, but I
hear them say …” I would suggest that Jesus’ words do give us a window into the
hearts of politicians in the unplanned, spontaneous words they use (say or post
on the internet). Often they backtrack on or try to hide these revelations with
carefully prepared statements, but I suggest paying attention to the words that
come out without much forethought as clues to what is happening in their
hearts.
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