Life has allowed me to come to a further understanding that gossip, no matter the circumstance, is always wrong and hurtful. There are no exceptions to that rule. And for the righteous that justify their gossip by saying they need to know so that they can be kind, or help or whatever, one comment....step forward and plant your feet on solid ground rather than quick sand. If you need to know, and does anyone really need to know, then ask the person in question to their face. They will either tell you the information or tell you to move on and stop nosing into things that you have no need to know.
In researching for a talk I read a great story. A Bishop was aware of one particular woman that had the strong need to know things that were of no concern to her. He pulled her into the office and gave her a bag of feathers and asked her to take them to various houses (those that they knew she had gossiped about or with) and deposit several on each porch step until they were gone and then return to the office. She obediently did as instructed, placing the inconsequential feathers on various porches. Upon returned she was asked to go back and collect all the feathers. The woman quickly pointed out that collecting feathers, all the feathers, would be impossible. The wind would have broadcast them and they no longer could be collected. He pointed out that gossip was like those feathers, nothing and no one can undo the damage done by simple gossip. I know I need to be sure to remember that all the time. It is always interesting to know things and sometimes knowing is not the kindest help. Sometimes I drop feathers and then realize I have done so and try to gather them back to know that words can never be taken back.
I thought that was an interesting story and something that applies to all of us, no matter how much we pretend that we never participate in anything as wrong as gossip. I think we all do to various degrees and we all need to remember those feathers.
That said, I am marching slowly towards tomorrow. Tough road right now but I am moving in a direction that I want to go and I know that I can weather the storms. I just get tired of doing so! And my body is telling me this is not a good season with all sorts of not so subtle comments. Stupid body...get on board and help me out here!
