Rene Gutteridge: Listen

“That’s when you posted our conversation. You wanted to prove I wasn’t behind this.”

Hunter nodded. “Plus, you said some really profound things, things I think this town needed to hear.”

“And you sent the crossword puzzle, then took it back?”

“Yeah. I thought I was protecting you. I went through your briefcase one day. It was right there in the center pocket.”

Damien’s heart swelled with love for his son, even as his body tensed with waves of pain. The courage and compassion his children showed overwhelmed him. But now what would happen?

The Bloody Stain

By Damien Underwood, staff writer

On a cold Thursday in December, only days before Christmas, Marlo collapsed under the weight of its own words, never to be the same again. What began with thoughtless words ended with a consuming fire.

Though Marlo would always be marred by the bloody red stain of disgrace, I had hoped it might welcome the painful cutting out of its deepest regret. A long scar would remain, but it was that scar that could cause Marlo to fight harder for innocence and goodness.

Months later, people walk the sidewalks again but rarely wave at neighbors, shake hands with those whom they have much in common, and trust one another. It has become evident that trust begins with words. Trusting someone to speak kindly when you are not present means trustworthiness in many more countless ways. To know trustworthiness first with words, then with actions was to be this town’s richest attribute, the most desired character trait.

Except Marlo could never quite forgive what it had done.

Ideally, the power of words was never to be taken for granted. Everyone in town might have vowed to never be undone by their own words again. If there was something to be settled, it should be done face-to-face. If there was a grievance, then courage would find them talking openly about it.

But instead, Marlo continues to reel and rage, reminding one another of the sins committed.

Only forgiveness can stand now. Only forgiveness can wipe the slate clean. Who is willing to stand up for that?

On March 13, my son, Hunter Underwood, stood before a judge to receive his sentence. On his way to the courthouse, people taunted him. Yelled at him. Booed him for invading their privacy. He took it like a man, because he had done what they accused him of.

Inside the courthouse, he held his chin high, ready to accept the consequence of his actions. For the first time he was dressed in a suit. He looked handsome and mature. And scared to death.

The judge sat high, cloaked with the authority of the robe and the title. She gave a brief lecture on the law and how many laws he’d broken. Hunter nodded, understanding full well that no matter any good he had done, he still had to face the law.

But then, to everyone’s surprise, the judge told Hunter that in the right situation, mercy is oftentimes more powerful than punishment. The stain can be a reminder but not always a verdict. So she sentenced him to community work and a lifetime of sharing his passion for the power of words.

He did just that. In July, his essay “The Power of Words” was published by Time magazine, and the story of Marlo was told in People. Hunter finished his community service three weeks ago.

On Sunday, our pastor taught from Genesis, which recounts a loving God who speaks the world into existence. I found myself thinking about how true it is that our words have the power to speak life-and also death-into whatever they touch.

Life and death are indeed in the power of the tongue. And words are as permanent as ink pen on a crossword.

It is with deep sadness that I tell you this is my last column for the Marlo Sentinel. My family and I are moving away to heal and find joy inside community. For community has richness and fulfillment to offer. And our family has much to give.

We’ve committed ourselves to taking care of my good friend Frank’s sister, Meredith, and providing whatever she needs for the rest of her life. It is the least we can do for a man who fought hard to save the town he loved.

Our hearts will always be close to you, Marlo. We will pray for you daily. Speak kindly. Love powerfully. Listen fully.

“But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.”

– James 3:5-6

Use these questions for individual reflection or for discussion within your book club or small group. If your book club reads Listen and is interested in talking with me via speakerphone, please feel free to contact me through my Web site at www.renegutteridge.com, and I’ll do my best to arrange something with you. Thanks for reading!

1. Do you believe words have power over you? What about the words you speak in private? Do they still have power? over you? over someone else?

2. Can you recall an instance where words changed you, either for better or worse?

3. Kay’s life was changed by words when she was young, but the pain it caused her and others continued into the next generation. What steps can we take to make sure painful words do not continue to cause harm through more generations?

4. Why do you think Frank kept his sister a secret, even from his best friend?

5. If you were the one who discovered who was behind the Web site, would you turn them in? What if it were a friend or family member? Would you try to protect them from the consequences?

6. How have social networking sites and other technological advances-like texting and Twittering-changed what we say about ourselves and others? Do you think people feel freer to share personal details? What issues can this present?

7. If you have a damaged or estranged relationship in your life, and you were asked to write the person a letter, could you do it? Why or why not? What would make it hard or easy?

8. What are three words you’d like to have spoken about you?

9. What do you think are five of the most powerful words in the English language? What makes them powerful?

10. The Bible has a lot to say about the power of the tongue. For instance, Damien quotes James 3:5- 6 in his letter to Marlo. Read and discuss the following verses: Psalm 34:12-14, Proverbs 13:3, and Proverbs 15:4.

Rene Gutteridge is the author of sixteen novels, including the Storm series (Tyndale House Publishers) and Never the Bride, the Boo series, and the Occupational Hazards series from WaterBrook Press. She also released My Life as a Doormat and The Ultimate Gift: The Novelization with Thomas Nelson. Rene is also known for her Christian comedy sketches. She studied screenwriting while earning a mass communications degree, graduating magna cum laude from Oklahoma City University and earning the Excellence in Mass Communication Award. She served as the full-time director of drama for First United Methodist Church for five years before leaving to stay home and write. She enjoys instructing at writers conferences and in college classrooms. She lives with her husband, Sean, a musician, and their children in Oklahoma City.