actions and words: which speak louder?

5th June, 2009 - Posted by Helen Harrison -

Thursday 4th June: in the UK it was polling day for MEPs and some local councils, and the first opportunity for the voters to show what they think of politics since the recent eruption of the MPs expenses scandal that seems to have taken over the headlines every day for a month.
June 4th was also the day that President Obama addressed a packed auditorium in Cairo and spoke about a need to end the ‘cycle of suspicion and distrust’ between USA and the Muslim world. He went on to say that both Americans and Muslims must change their crude perceptions of each other, and work towards building trust and respect. It was a powerful and encouraging speech.
So, we have one example showing how actions can quickly undo any amount of positive words: the MPs can spout as much rhetoric as they like, but if they mucked up on the expenses, then their actions will shout louder.
And we also have an example of how words can sound wonderful, and encourage others to dream of a better day, but unless the words are followed by positive actions, they will end up no more than a clanging cymbal.
As the season approaches for teams of Open Arms volunteers to go out to Kenya and carry out practical work to support the fantastic ongoing work that the Kenyan staff and volunteers do year round, so it is an opportunity for us to demonstrate how actions can speak so positively. Building orphans homes, doing medical clinics, caring for children, feeding the poorest families - all ways in which simple actions can speak so much more loudly than words. And a thought worth remembering for each of us, as we go through our day, interacting, using words and actions - which will speak louder for us?