Walking The Talking

In my travels I heard a quote used, attributed to St Francis of Assisi, “Preach the gospel always and if necessary, use words”.

I am not a religious person. I am a spiritual person. When something garners my attention no matter where it comes from I will examine it. Tis my nature to do so. Call it the path to enlightenment or the road to understanding if you like. The important thing is that the quote struck a chord in me and got me thinking.

In my time, in this space, I equivocate that quote with an axiom that has been popular for a time and still is popular, “If you’re gonna talk the talk you better walk the walk.

What I get from the quote, what I perceive in that statement is a code of conduct. I see carrying your beliefs before you so that all may see. I see standing up for and backing up what you talk.

I don’t see pounding your belief system in to others. I don’t see allowing others to pound their belief system in to you.

I will talk about my beliefs with others when they ask. I’ll explain why I believe what I do and touch on the things that got me from there to here. I’ve had some rather interesting discussions and enjoyed them. On a couple occasions the conversation was turned by the person I was speaking with from discussion to preaching their beliefs.

When it turns to preaching conversation has ended and can quickly become adversarial if you allow that to happen. Walking the walk also means having the sense to walk away. If someone doesn’t care to allow you to walk away, to my mind, you are freed to walk over them.

G.R. Hambley ©
June 02, 2015
All Rights Reserved

Advertisement