I’m not much on science. I’m homeschooling my 6-year-old and basically learning right along with her. Oh, I kind of remember learning such things as how photosynthesis works and how nose hairs keep gross junk from entering our bodies, but really I have no idea how things work. It just wasn’t something I was interested in while in school, so my tank of knowledge simply chose to leak it out. I still am not all that interested in it, but my little girl is so passionate about anything having to do with the ‘how’ behind any living thing that I have to really give it my all.
When my daughter was only 2, she wanted to know how grass ate food. Ok, I explained that the roots under the ground sucked up water and sent it through the plant. I’m a grown-up. I know stuff. Nope. This kid wanted to know why it was only water that they ate and why she never needed to feed the grass with meats and veggies like she ate. She wanted to know the very specific, very detailed way grass gets nutrients. So, I had to look up a word I knew but had no clue how to explain. I know photosynthesis is the process but nothing about how to explain it to a 2-year-old.
Let’s all take a moment to thank whomever it was that put all this information on line for people like me to access it in times like this. She loved it. We used a cut piece of celery in colored water to watch the process work through the ‘veins’ of the celery. We then examined pretty much every leaf and every tree in our subdivision to discover all the different types of little ‘veins’ in the different types of leaves. She’s just that kid. In order for her to learn, she has to understand every little ‘why’ and ‘how’ involved.
There’s another science-y piece of information that I’ve learned that I’d like to share with you. I learned this one on my own. This nugget was found in a book written by Annette Capps called Quantum Faith. It’s all about the science behind sound.
Stick with me. I promise I’m not just going to write about a science lesson here.
Here’s the Cliff’s Notes synopsis from my vantage point. Everything, and I really mean everything, can be broken down to its smallest structure to atoms. Everything. Atoms are the basic building blocks of everything. Each atom is made of subatomic particles. It is made up of energy from these particles, protons, neutrons, electrons, surrounding a nucleus. Ok. Great. What?
So, when an atom is formed or created, it has no scientific purpose yet. It is just waiting in limbo, so to speak. Could it be a freckle? Could it be a leaf? Could it be hair? What could it be? It has no purpose.
Until…….
Until it hears sound. An atom has no structural purpose upon creation until it hears a vibration of sound to tell it what to become. Seriously! Have you ever been one of those pregnant moms who plays music for her forming baby? Have you used calming nature sounds to relax you? What about positive affirmation recordings in therapy or counseling? Is it any wonder that we are so deeply affected by the music we choose to listen to? Teens in the throws of wild and unleashed hormones and emotions are moved by music and poetry in an attempt to find their way. Churches are polarized to the point of hiring and firing music leadership every few years because music really does affect us that deeply.
Well, here’s what I’ve been ruminating about recently. How many of us wives have ever said this to our husbands, “Ugh! You ALWAYS do this!,” or, “I don’t know why I even try. It’s ALWAYS going to be like this,” and, “What is WRONG with you?” (My emphasis added for a window into my own type of exasperated speech patterns.)
We have the power within our own hearts, minds, and words to change things around us by simply using the right words. There is so much to be said for encouraging people, for using kind words even in the heat of disagreement. It is truly tough to reign in my emotions when I’m mad and keep myself from saying horrible things, even to those I love most dearly. I’m a hothead with a hot mouth. It’s my biggest struggle.
But what if we chose to apply this idea of using the creative power of our words to change our situation? What if, instead of saying, “What is WRONG with you?,” we chose to say something that can change things. I’m not trying to feed words to you. But let’s try this together. “This husband of mine is destined for greatness!” Not only will you shock the pants off him, but you then have shaken the atomic foundation of things to begin to make changes. “My husband has the heart and mind of a leader and I just know he will use this wisdom and knowledge to lead us/them properly.”
Instead of, “You ALWAYS do this,” maybe the idea could be, “I see this is where we’ve come again and we know the path. What do you think about XYZ idea that we haven’t tried before?” You’ve given him another idea to interrupt the existing patterns and have given birth to a new set of atoms with a new destination. Don’t choose the old ones. They’re exhausted. Get off the dead horse. Choose to give life to new things. Don’t forget to use your words to tell your spouse when they look good or when they do something nice, even when it’s a typical household chore. Always say thank you. Always say please. Not only are you appreciating your spouse, but you’re setting a precedent in the hearts and minds of your children. Never take for granted the actions of your loved ones.
Our children need this as well. “You are such a bright child and I’m excited to see what your future holds!” This could be after a failed test score that your child is devastated or frustrated to receive. “You will be one of the best people at judging character when you’re older because of all the life experiences you’ve already encountered.” This is in the face of yet another bad relationship experience with friends/dating/jobs. Our kids need to hear that there is another path to choose. They need to understand that they are not limited to the failures they’ve experienced thus far.
Our words have the power to build up our marriages and families or tear them completely apart. My husband was told growing up by his father that nobody wants to hear anything he has to say. So, to this day he struggles with finding importance in his own self. How many of us were told we were fat and now deal with eating disorders? Or that our appearance was the most important part of our lives and now struggle with confidence? Words shape the way we think. They create the direction of the atoms that filter our thoughts and our actions.
If you choose to look into the biblical application of this, look at the power of Creation. Did God push a button and create light? No, He used His words. “Let there be light.” And there was light. When Joshua was told by God to march around the city of Jericho seven times and then use the instruments and shouts to cause the stone protective walls to fall, did God send battering rams to push the walls down? Nope. He used the power of sound to take the victory. There is even mention of the “music of the planets” in the Bible. I wonder what application that has imbedded in its meaning. It’s no wonder we have such dissent in our places of worship when it comes to music. “Why don’t they play more hymns? Why do we have to use those noisy electric guitars? Why can’t we play songs we hear on Christian radio? Why can’t we just skip the music and show up for the message?” Oh, the enemy sure knows where to cause a break in our faith, doesn’t he? He knows there’s power in our praise and the sounds we create.
But, I digress.
We can take this all the way to healing and addiction and whatever else can be applied. But she already wrote the book. You really should read it.
Quantum Faith by Annette Capps