I’ve been very diligently working on my New Year's Resolutions this year. One of them has been really fun and has been easy to work on. That one is to watch all of the movies on the American Film Institute's list of 100 best movies. I’d seen a lot of them already, and there’s a few I’ve seen but will rewatch. Since January I’ve watched 14 – so I’m well on track to complete the 45 that I have left.
This resolution has been really beneficial to me. For one thing, in the evenings when I want to watch something I no longer have to scroll around on our various streaming services to find something that suits my mood at the moment. I simply pick a movie from the list and watch it. It has also allowed me to see some great movies that I otherwise might not have picked.
For example, over the last week I’ve watched 3 Charlie Chaplin films that I’d never seen before- City Lights, The Gold Rush and Modern Times. In all of these movies he plays the character that he’s most famous for with his oversized shoes, baggy pants, tight derby jacket, bowler hat and a toothbrush moustache. This character is a vagrant who tries to behave with manners and dignity above his social status. I watched the Gold Rush & Modern Times with some of the kids and it was amazing to see how well these movies that are up to 99 years old could hold our attention. We laughed at some crazy antics, we felt sadness with defeat, we felt the joy of victory- all without a single spoken word. While Chaplin did have some talking movies, most of his most popular films were silent. He was reportedly hesitant to add talking to his movies because he thought talkies lacked the artistry of silent films.
So with that had me reflecting this week on the value of silence.
Obviously there can be value in the things we say….and most of us have plenty to say. Yet, the Bible seems to indicate that there is benefit to keeping our mouths shut sometimes. Ecclesiastes 3 tells us there is a time to be silent and a time to speak. Perhaps there is an artistry to silence that we take for granted in our pursuit of getting our opinions out or the last word in.
Read the verses below- and be careful little mouths what you say.
James 1:19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger…
Proverbs 10:19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
Proverbs 18:13 If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame
James 1:26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.
Proverbs 17:27-28 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Matthew 15:11 It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.
Proverbs 26:20 For lack of wood the fire goes out and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.
Here's some good clips from the movies we've watched this week for those that have asked:
©Hope Fletcher, 2024