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“There are people who in casual conversation make trivial and derisive comments using phrases from Sacred Scripture—some out of habit and some out of contempt. They believe they are being sophisticated, with their jokes and ridicule. But thoughts and words of this kind cling to the base, unclean notions of such an individual and inflict much damage in the other life, because they come back to the individual with profane ideas attached” (Secrets of Heaven 961).
“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34).
Certain negative phrases come into my mind and often make their way out of my mouth. Plainly stated, I’ve got a persistent habit of cursing. Whether inherited or adopted, I find myself in certain situations quick to swear or curse. This passage makes me think of the subtle (or maybe not so subtle) effects this habit has on my everyday life in general. What other “base, unclean notions” am I bringing into my mind when I use these words? What profane ideas are attached?
This is one of the many hellish habits I have that if it weren’t for motherhood, may have gone unnoticed indefinitely. Even so, in my life it seems like often other issues trump this one. I sweep this one to the side of the room as it seems relatively superficial—I’ll just take care of it later. But this passage changes my mind. I may be progressing in my spiritual life, maintaining a positive approach and being upheld in patience and perseverance, but by keeping up a habit of swearing I’m actually subverting all my good effort in the other direction. Even though they are small words, they carry a lot of power.
I can’t seem to stop the habit outright, so I’ve started by just watching, just paying attention to when I do swear and taking into account anything I notice. Similar to the thrust of this passage, I’ve found that it’s not that swearing simply sprinkles my day like specks of pepper. It’s more than that. First, it’s not me doing the swearing; and second, when I do adopt that voice, like using a key, I open myself to a host of negative influences. I call it the ‘fml’ attire. “…fml.” Have you heard or read this phrase? For a while, the phrase would pop into my head, unchecked, and I’d fall for it. Now I’m paying attention and it’s slowly losing its power over me (thank the Lord!). I call it attire because it feels like an outfit for my mind. As soon as I put the outfit on, whether it’s by saying ‘fml’ or any other curse, it sets my whole mood. I become irritable, easily enraged, defeatist about life, cynical—the list goes on. Could it be that I could stop myself from falling off the cliff of a bad mood simply by refusing to say certain words? That’s what I take from this passage, and it rings true for me.
It’s time to throw these clothes away.
Chelsea recently had her third baby and has moved to Glenside, PA. She appreciates the time for reflection writing this column makes her carve out. She is an assistant editor for New Church Connection and an editor and writer for New Church Perspective.