Whenever you see that the glory of God and the good of the Church demand that you should speak out, don’t remain silent. Think about it. Who would lack courage before God and in the face of eternity? There is nothing to be lost and instead so much to be gained. Why do you hold back then? (1)

One of the blessings and curses of what they call “social media” is the lowering of inhibitions when it comes to stating exactly what is on our minds.  We would never whine or complain or criticize people in person the way we do on Facebook or Twitter or in our texts.  Although I am starting to wonder if we are getting braver in person, because we vent and tell what we really feel in cyber-reality.

The blessing is that slowly and surely, our facades our crumbling, we are letting each other in on our humanity, on what causes our doubts, our fears, our anxieties, our pains.  We are being transparent, and often what we would bottle up, we instead vent.  We may not always do it well – but we do it.  The way we do it, can often be a concern, and even the curse.  Because social media doesn’t include body language, and it isn’t truly dialogue – communication that flows two ways, unhindered, what is said doesn’t always come through the way it was meant – and we don’t get the feedback of body language, the shock in the eyes, the fallen glance, the frown, the raised eyebrow, the collapse of the body.

As I read St. Josemaria’s words this morning, it came to mind that what we don’t see often is our words (not just the shares of the soundbytes and pictures) that are the messages we are compelled to share.   The word of encouragement  the word calling someone to re-focus, the things that need to be said, that bring repentance and healing and reconciliation.  That lift up the downtrodden, that allow us to share in the joys and the sorrows, that encourage our dependence on God, and the peace that can only come, when we remember He is present.

Such words are necessary, even as each has its own difficulty. Such words call for confidence, not in ourselves, but in God.  Such words call for the kind of focus that enabled Jesus to endure the cross, for the joy set before Him.  Such words bring incredible blessing..

Such words are given to you… so speak out!

Escriva, Josemaria (2011-01-31). The Forge (Kindle Locations 1757-1760). Scepter Publishers. Kindle Edition.