THE POWER WITHIN

Everyone uses them, but not everyone knows how. We all take them for granted, yet many would give their very lives just to have them. These intangible offerings can work miracles, heal the wounded, and set hearts afire. They can also destroy, mutilate, and wreak havoc that no one can undue.

What can have such power over people and situations, yet cannot be totally controlled or contained? WORDS -

Words are at the disposable of anyone who wishes to use them. There are no restrictions, guidelines, or penalties for misuse, no stated rules or punishments for wrongful use. They are tiny and one-syllable long or they can be complicated and unknown to many. Words are so powerful that people fear them, while others long to hear them.

A writer uses words as the tools of his trade. With careful manipulation, they can delight readers with stories, anecdotes, and passages that will transgress time. If not used correctly, they will give misinformation, misdirection, and confusion. Vocabulary can hasten a heartbeat or cause it to halt and die. They bring smiles to children, thrills to lovers, and soothe a fevered brow. Without effort, they can cut right to the heart, invade the soul, and the mind, linger, cause pain, and sometimes destroy a person from the inside.

Words should never be taken lightly. Children use gibberish to test the water of language. As they get older, they begin to sense the power they hold in a simple