Wisdom & Noise

There are a lot of people with a lot of things to say in this world today. There's a constant barrage of opinion and conjecture filling the status feeds every second of every day.

It used to be just the writers for the New York Times or Time Magazine were the voices we heard. It used to be that controlled media was the only platform from which to share content.

Not anymore.

Today, everything is different.

Anyone can have the potential for a global-reaching platform through social media. All you need is an email address and a password. 

But having a platform and having a voice are not the same. Nor is either one a right of entitlement, even though we can oftentimes think so. We can falsely believe that we have earned the right or that we even deserve to have a platform or have a voice of influence. Sometimes, we can even think that one is owed to us.

A platform is earned, and it's earned over time. But I think we sometimes make the mistake of placing our concern and desire for having a platform in front of our care for developing our voice. A voice doesn't emerge in an instant; it is actually more like a sculpture that is carefully and diligently chiseled, bit by bit, piece by piece.  Every one of us has a voice.  The question is whether or not we are developing it.

Though it may not be what you want to hear, you don't have the right to be an influence on people's lives simply because you have a Facebook account. Post all you want, but you will ultimately only be received as a voice of influence when you actually have something to say, when people know they can trust you.

Part of the issue I see is we simply have so much to say, but in reality, we are not saying anything.

I would rather have something to say and no platform to speak from
than to have a platform with nothing to say.

ONE IS WISDOM.  THE OTHER IS NOISE.

A voice will be earned when great care is given to every word shared.

With having a voice comes great responsibility. When we take that responsibility seriously, I am a believer that the platform will take care of itself. Good content always finds a way out.

May we always be people who add value to the world we live in by sharing wisdom. There is enough noise already without us adding more to the narrative.

"....be ready in and out of season to give an account for the hope you have....” 1 Peter 3:15