Mind speak might just be gutter speak.

Summer Salt 'o6. I receive the Jael Award for "Hammering home the point".


Don't be distressed. I'd no clue who Jael was either. Apparently, she hammered a tent peg into someone's temple and killed them. Only in the Bible of course.


The point was that they appreciated my bluntness.

My bluntness. Speaking my mind. Not beating around the bush. Getting straight to the point. Being succinct, laconic, economical in speech.


In high school there was this girl, *Sandra, who was quite famous for her brutal honesty. It began in Year 7 and continued on til graduation day. She just adored it. Everybody feared her. People would always look to Sandra for an honest opinion, a piece of advice, or protection of some kind. As this reputation rolled on for such a time, she grew cockier about the reception of her opinions and soon developed an opinion for everything and a mysterious knowledge about any random topic. Right at the end of it all, people started to realise how wrong she often was about things and how hurtful she could be with her tongue.

Which brings me to my point--

I am ashamed of my so-called bluntness.
I suppose it was influenced by a very assertive mother and older sister. Also a genuine childhood interest in female empowerment through feminism (I was 11). Naturally a rather shy kid, I always dreamed of being confident and outspoken, and my parents made sure to teach me the mechanics of social etiquette "or else you'll embarrass us", they would say.

Soon I was coming out with my opinions left, right and centre. One whole term in Year 8 was filled with lunch times of me, solo-yelling to my group of friends about all that irritated me regarding each of them. I soon realised the power of speaking your mind; people feared you indeed. You would be heard, respected, taken seriously.

However, would you be loved? More importantly, would you be expressing love through such 'brutal' honesty? If your aspiring supermodel friend asked for your honest opinion regarding her 145cm stature, would you tell her
"No, you midget you CAN'T BE A MODEL!" or would you simply tell her,
"I think you've been made beautiful in the image of your Creator. Your height may be an issue to Priscilla's Model Agency but it's the craftsmanship of the Almighty God, I tell you!"

Often bluntness is associated with brutal honesty. And that brutal honesty implies "the truth hurts". While it may, I think our aim when speaking the truth should be to promote love, and to glorify Jesus Christ, whom, in all things were made, and who IS the truth, way and life in which we live.