Everything [in us] speaks

Disney culture is famous for its maxim “Everything speaks,” which means that every detail within a Disney experience (at a park, in a movie, or in merchandise) says something, good or bad, true or false, intentional on unintentional. Disney employees and leaders are ruthless and meticulous about insuring that every single detail contributes to the impression they are trying to make on their guests. Buildings, signs, trees, flowers, streets and walkways, even trashcans, are designed and decorated to match an overall ambience with great care and intentionality.

In the same way, we “speak” every time we step out into public. We can offer blessing, love, and care, and enhance the lives of others; or we can choose to use, abuse, mistreat, or dominate them to our own sinful ends. This is true whether in the coffee shop or on the highway, at home with our families or in a crowded mall with total strangers. Our lives are always “speaking,” and cannot help doing so.

Thus, the first and greatest test of our inner convictions is our behavior in front of and treatment of others. From this first encounter they will form an opinion of us; from that they will add to their opinion about people and their philosophy of life; and of course this will all contribute to their opinion of their own existence within reality.

As john Ortberg and many others have said, “we are constantly being spiritually formed; the question to ask is: what forming us?” Spiritual formation is going on at all times in our lives. We are taking in impressions, ideas, opinions, leadings, and directions from the world around us. As a thirsty plant draws water and nutrients from the soil around it (whether rich in nutrients or poor), we too draw in from whatever is around us.

In the lives of others, we are a part of their spiritual landscape—we contribute the nutrients, water, and life-giving surroundings in which they move. What kind of contribution do we make? Are we used by God in ways that give life to others? Are we in tune with God, and passing that along? Or do we ignore God’s leading in our lives, and instead take our cue from the lesser influences in the world around us, subsequently (and perhaps unwittingly) passing those on to others?

What kind of people are we? What do we contribute to others?