What would happen if we started a T.H.I.N.K. movement or committed to doing some serious T.H.I.N.K.ing during Lent? This kind of T.H.I.N.K.ing calls for more than deep thoughts or articulating words of wisdom. For Girl Talk,* who created a campaign meant to remind everyone to “THINK,” this is not a new idea. T.H.I.N.K. is an acronym that challenges you to ask yourself:
Is what I am saying, texting or typing
True
Helpful
Important
Necessary
Kind?
Girl Talk is encouraging girls and boys, schools, homes, churches and businesses alike to T.H.I.N.K. about the importance of how we communicate with others. Did you notice the church is on the invitation list? T.H.I.N.K.ing reminds me of Ecclesiastes 5:2-12:
Don’t shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think. Don’t be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear. God’s in charge, not you – the less you speak, the better. Over-work makes for restless sleep. Over-talk shows you up as a fool. (from The Message)
Of course this concept is not new to disciples but sometimes a reminder helps us to refocus and reflect on the impact and influence of our words of encouragement, planning and everyday conversations, words that we did not T.H.I.N.K. about.
The impact of the popularity of social media with its instant yet permanent nature calls us to practice our T.H.I.N.K. ing a little harder.
We can even explore more ways of T.H.I.N.K.ing. Is what I am thinking, saying, texting or typing
Timely
Healing
Inspiring
Needed
Kairos
Now, you try one.
*Girl Talk is an international non-profit peer-to-peer mentoring program with a very simple premise: high school girls mentor middle school girls to help them deal with the issues they face during their formative early teenage years. Its mission is to help young teenaged girls build self-esteem, develop leadership skills and recognize the value of community service. Since 2002, this organization has served more than 40,000 girls in 43 states and 7 countries.
Valora K Starr is director for discipleship.
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