Wednesday, February 3, 2010

With Sharpness vs. Sharply

Too many people misunderstand "reproving betimes with sharpness". "Sharpness"- as used in this context - does NOT mean "with raised voice" or "harshly" or anything like unto it. It means "with precision" or "directly on point" - like the difference between operating with a scalpel or with a steak knife. If means getting right to the heart of the issue and not letting other things or issues get in the way. When you add "when moved upon by the Holy Ghost" qualifier, I believe that very little of our mutual conversation actually fits this verse.

Too much internet conversation - devoid of direct and visual observation and feedback - includes reproving not with sharpness but merely reproving sharply when not moved upon by the Holy Ghost. That is what we need to fight - the natural (wo)man tendency to let our emotions influence how we speak with each other and allow those emotions to puch things past the line where civility resides.

7 comments:

Jami said...

I like to think of sharpness being extremely clear and focused, like a camera's focus.

HeidiAnn said...

When you say "(wo)man," do you mean...

it's really a natural tendency of women to do what you describe?

or

it's a natural tendency of both sexes to do what you describe? And you just wanted to be inclusive.

Curious...

Papa D said...

I like the camera focus analogy, Jami. Thanks for sharing that.

HeidiAnn, I often use "(wo)man" with a common quote that includes "man" but applies to both sexes - like "the natural man is an enemy to God" being "the natural (wo)man is an enemy to God". It's not as clear and focused for some, ironically for this post, but I like the inclusive nature of the usage.

Clean Cut said...

Amen. I had a bishop at BYU share this point with us and he likened it unto the sharpness button on an old TV--clarity.

Matthew said...

I had never thought of sharpness that way before, but it makes a lot of sense. Thanks!

ji said...

But sometimes, sharpness is necessary -- especially when dealing with children to get their attention. This seems especially so because of the command to afterwards show an increase of love.

My son (9-y-o) recently sat down in the drivers seat of a 20' boat and pushed a button on the console (boat motor running but in neutral) -- with sharpness, I told him to never push a button like that -- he needed the sharpness to get his attention, and he cried, but he learned and I followed up with an increase of love.

Papa D said...

I agree, ji - but we also tend to conflate sharpness with loudness and anger. Sharpness doesn't have to be either or both in many situations, even as it must be loud in others.