Sharp Whispers
My high school—like many others—was saturated with gossip. Who’s dating who? What did she say about him? He did what? FIGHT! Oh, how the school salivated over fresh drama.
One morning, senioritis was itching me like a field cluttered with chiggers. I needed some entertainment to soothe my sanity. That’s when I discovered: “Rumor has it.”
I’d claim, “Rumor has it…” and insert a meaty morsel dripping with gossip. I started small, and people exploded until the rumor finally boomeranged back. I would disprove it and laugh at them for believing me. I quickly learned that with great power comes…great fun!
Then came one fateful day. I had the best idea—or so I thought. With a single whisper, I summoned two of the biggest gossipers and muttered my famous line: “Rumor has it…” I won’t repeat what came next, but the words should have stayed behind my crooked smile.
I expected the rumor to boomerang back like always. I would laugh. They would be mad. But everything fell silent. Turns out these rumors swirled around this person for years. I wasn’t able to correct it until her senior year—how horrible.
The Bible says a lot about gossip. “You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people” (Leviticus 19:16). Also, “He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefore, do not associate with one who flatters with his lips” (Proverbs 20:19). Gossip hurts, divides, and spreads confusion through the Church, family, and friends. We should avoid gossip and seek the truth when necessary. “The first one to plead his cause seems right” (Proverbs 18:17).
In LOTKS Ch. 6 (The Good Elder), we discover a division between the dark elves and the light elves of Odessis. In LOTKR Ch. 4 (Unexpected Company), there is a secondary story of the rift between the elves. These conflicting factions symbolize the deep divisions gossip can inflict upon even nations. The cuts can be deep, but the eventual truth will allow for healing.
“A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends.”
Proverbs 16:28
