Beware of Honey-Coated Words
Quill & Tweed: The Musings of Augustus Merriweather
📚 Beyond “Aw Shucks”🎩
My dear friends and neighbors of Palmetto Cove,
The other day, as I was browsing the dusty shelves of Palmetto Cove’s charming little bookshop, I stumbled upon a collection of speeches by William Jennings Bryan. As I leafed through the yellowed pages, a thought struck me with the force of a Southern thunderstorm - how different political discourse was then compared to now. This led me down a winding path of reflection, much like the meandering Chattahoochee, on the nature of public speaking in our beloved South.
Now, I warn you, what I’m about to say might be more controversial than suggesting sweet tea should be served unsweetened. But as an old professor of mine used to say, “Comfort the afflicted, and afflict the comfortable.” So, let’s dive into this prickly patch of verbal briars together, shall we?
Genuine communication requires substance, not just style. Now, don’t misunderstand me. I love a good yarn as much as the next fellow. Why, just the other day, I regaled my Sunday school class with a tale about my first attempt at making biscuits that had them in stitches. But here’s the rub: when it comes to matters of importance - be it politics, preaching, or personal growth - we need more than just a heaping helping of “aw shucks” and “y’all come back now, ya hear?”
🎭 The Honey-Coated Trap 🍯
A good friend once said to me, “Augustus, be careful of people that are pouring honey on you, because it means they’re about to eat you.” Now, my friend is not known for his culinary metaphors (bless his heart), but he’s got a point sharper than a Georgia pine needle.
When I hear a politician described as “just a regular guy, one of us,” my suspicion meter starts ticking faster than a banjo player at a bluegrass festival. As the great Southern writer Flannery O’Connor once quipped, “The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it.”
Next time you listen to a speech or sermon, ask yourself: “What’s the substance behind the style?” Don’t let a folksy demeanor distract you from the content (or lack thereof).
📖 From Milk to Meat: A Biblical Perspective 🥩
The author of Hebrews (and I confess, sometimes I wonder if it wasn’t Paul himself, but that's a discussion for another day) writes:
For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food (Hebrews 5:12).
Now, I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve been guilty of peppering my speech with more colloquialisms than there are peanuts in a boiled peanut stand. It’s part of my charm, or so Savannah tells me. But there comes a time when we must move beyond the milk of simple platitudes and sink our teeth into the meat of substantial ideas.
Spiritual and intellectual growth requires challenging content, not just comfortable clichés.
I’m reminded of C.S. Lewis, that brilliant Oxford don who could explain complex theological concepts with the clarity of a mountain stream. He once wrote, “I didn't go to religion to make me happy. I always knew a bottle of Port would do that. If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly don't recommend Christianity.”
🎓 The Legacy of Substantive Speech 📜
It’s interesting to note that this “aw shucks” style of preaching seems to be a relatively recent phenomenon, perhaps early to mid-20th century and thereafter. As someone who loves perusing sermons from centuries past (a quirk that Savannah finds endearing, if a tad peculiar), I can’t help but notice the depth and substance in the words of great preachers like John Wesley or Charles Spurgeon.
Now, I’m not suggesting we all start speaking like 18th and 19th-century preachers (though I must admit, the idea of walking around Palmetto Cove in a powdered wig does have a certain appeal). But perhaps we could strive for a balance - the warmth and accessibility of Southern charm combined with the depth and substance of thoughtful discourse.
Challenge yourself to read or listen to content that stretches your mind. Maybe pick up a classic novel, dive into a theological treatise, or explore a new area of study. Growth often happens outside our comfort zones.
As I wrap up this little diatribe (and yes, I’m fully aware of the irony of using colloquialisms while arguing against their overuse), I’m reminded of a quote by another great Southern writer, William Faulkner: “Don’t bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.”
So, my friends, let’s strive for that. Let’s seek to communicate with warmth and clarity, yes, but also with depth and substance. Let’s ensure that our words, whether spoken from a pulpit, a podium, or just over the backyard fence, are more than just honey-coated niceties. Let them be nourishing, challenging, and true.
After all, if we’re going to talk the talk, we ought to make sure we’re saying something worth hearing.
Until next time, may your minds be as open as your hearts, your words as substantive as they are sweet, and your pursuit of truth as relentless as a Georgia Bulldog on game day (Go Dawgs!).
Yours in perpetual growth and occasional self-reflection,
Augustus B. Merriweather III
P.S. If you’ve found these musings helpful, why not share them with a friend? After all, good ideas, like good barbecue, are meant to be shared. And don’t forget to check out our Walking Points page for more devotionals and Bible studies. Let’s grow together, shall we? 🌱📚