Under the dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London is the Whispering Gallery. Anyone whispering facing the wall on one side can be clearly heard on the other, as the sound is carried perfectly around the vast curve of the dome.

In other words, you and a friend could sit on opposite sides of the great cathedral and carry on a conversation without having to speak above a whisper.

While that might be an interesting fact to know about St. Paul’s Cathedral, it can also be a warning to us. What we say about others in secret can travel just as easily as whispers travel around that gallery. And not only can our gossip travel far and wide, it often causes a lot of hurt along the way.

Perhaps this is why the Bible warns us about the ways we speak. The book of Proverbs tells us, “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut” (V.19 NLT).

When we want to gossip and talk about others behind their backs, we’re better off saying nothing at all. Our words could do a lot of damage, but our silence will stop gossip in its tracks.

By: Bill Crowder

To Pray About . . .

Father, help us to be careful about what we say, and know when to stay silent. Help us to be the kind of people who stop gossip, rather than spreading it further.