Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: PUT YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD (07/23/20)
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TITLE: The Wrong Word | Previous Challenge Entry
By Deborah Garner
07/30/20 -
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Simply put, neural synapses transmit information from one brain neuron to another. Repetitive thoughts or actions alter the synapses and allow them to develop neural pathways that carry familiar information more efficiently, much as a tired trekker finds it less work to follow in the guide's snowshoe prints than to make their own. For example, words put to music or containing rhyming phrases alter synapses to reproduce auditory memories even over a lifetime. Remember the color of the eggs and ham in the story by Dr. Seuss? After reading the book a few times, the description and probably also a mental picture of "green eggs" are forever stuck in our brains. Similarly, inappropriate words escape our mouths because we heard them; they were unexpected, perhaps shocking, and we easily recall and repeat them. These words are also frequently associated with an emotional stimulus such as anger or fear, which can increase retention. It takes a deliberate effort to avoid inappropriate words spoken under emotional stress,
Our genius Creator God designed this highly functioning neural networking to allow brain synapses to transport information seamlessly in the background of our conscious mind, significantly reducing the time and effort needed to perform life's activities. It would be like reinventing the wheel, as the expression goes, to continually lose and then have to regain the knowledge, including our vocabulary, abstract concepts, and skills that we had already learned. Our brains contain an astonishing 86 billion neurons that continuously communicate with each other. According to the Basicknowledge.com website, brain matter the size of a grain of sand could contain 100,000 neurons and 1 billion synapses. Even though humans may obtain extensive knowledge and program computers to handle vast quantities of information, it takes an even higher intellect, which God alone possesses, to have conceptualized the human brain's potential.
Psalm 139:4 states, "Even before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely." (NIV) Considering He also says in verse 13 that He knew us before we were formed in our mothers' wombs, then it seems logical that He intimately knows our minds. So even if you don't express unkind or hurtful words out loud, they reside in the archives of our brain. It takes a sincere desire and effort to decrease the channels that quickly recall inappropriate or sinful words. Scripture reading and intentional familiarity with verses and passages would seem useful tools to increase desired pathways. The Holy Spirit enables these newly created neural pathways to direct appropriate Spirit-controlled responses for any situation.
Several weeks ago, my high school classmates sent out information regarding our upcoming reunion. Query posts for lost contacts filled the comment section. One classmate who had experienced frequent bullying in school inquired of the whereabouts of a good friend of mine. The writer said she remembered my friend because she had always spoken kindly to her throughout their four years. I understood it as a genuine compliment for my friend, who is still gracious and considerate to others.
Another friend, unfortunately, experienced the opposite situation. Unaware that she failed to disconnect a cell phone call, she engaged in a gossipy conversation with another person criticizing her friend. Her words produced hurt, not easily forgiven.
Our human nature tends to produce rebellious thoughts toward God, but we often blame our strong emotions or others' behavior for the things we say. Our Lord Jesus did not allow people's misconduct or accusing lies to be the basis for His responses. His loving and truthful words originated from neural pathways that had perfect recall of Scripture.
In the Bible, Luke 4:22 gives us a picture of how our Lord addressed others, "They were all speaking well of Him and were amazed by the gracious words that came from his mouth, yet they said, 'Isn't this Joseph's son?" (HCSB) Perhaps if we followed the example our Lord Jesus displayed while He ministered on earth, we would be slow to speak the wrong words, but quick to speak words of encouragement, kindness, and consideration.
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I would suggest shortening this a little to avoid brain overload in the reader.