c. 2008 Religion News Service

(UNDATED) Politicians and preachers share at least one thing in common _ words are their primary currency, and in the estimation of many, most of them are trading more in words than in action.

As a former talk show host, who also writes, podcasts and preaches, this is one of only a handful of subjects about which I can claim to be a bona fide expert.

We all know that when it comes to humans, words aren’t always a predictor of outcomes, even among the well intended.

In Genesis when God said, “Let there be light,” presto: There was light! In politics and religion, however, there are, shall we say, a few complicating intermediary steps between declaring that something should be done and it actually happening.

Maddeningly, there seems to be a cosmic law dictating that doers aren’t often great orators, and great orators aren’t generally good doers.

Public speaking is a natural gift bestowed on some and not others. Basic speaking skills can be learned and improved, but unless you start with the gift, there’s only so much you can do.

The same is true of the kinds of skills required to get things done. Skills for analyzing, strategizing, planning, organizing, leading and monitoring are sometimes bestowed upon the orator, but generally they are granted to those who minimize words and favor action.

One marvels that we’ve come as far as we have, given that in America, both politics and religion are usually in the hands of orators instead of doers. Television has magnified the problem because now we look not just for orators, but for telegenic orators!

What’s more, those of us who have worked in the media know there is often a radical difference between one’s “on air” and “off the air” media personality. Only those in the room can actually discern the difference between the disembodied, ever-cheerful media personality and the real human who emerges when the “on air” light goes off.

Sometimes words are a bad predictor of behavior because the words aren’t sincere. One president scolded the nation, wagged his finger and declared, “I did not have sexual relations with that woman.” More than a few religious leaders made similar declarations only to retract when the hapless victim produced audio or video footage.

Even among the sincere, there is often a gap between words and performance. Tolstoy, a man who challenged so many to live the way of love, didn’t follow through in his personal life. His wife put it this way: “There is so little genuine warmth in him; his kindness does not come from the heart, but merely from his principles. His biographies will tell of how he helped the laborers carry buckets of water, but no one will ever know that he never gave his wife a rest and never _ in all these 32 years _ gave his child a drink of water or spent five minutes by his bedside to give me a chance to rest a little from all my labors.”

Ouch.

Given the poor predictive track record of words relative to action, what are we to do with the torrent of words spewing forth from preachers and politicians?

First, recognize that talk is cheap. Words matter, but only when the oratory is a synergistic mix of passion, intellect and integrity. Aristotle said persuasive, actionable speech connects emotionally and mentally, but should only be heeded if speakers’ words are matched by their actions.

Second, look at the actions, the track record and the hard facts. What has this person done with his time and energy?

Sadly, the demands of professional life often hinders the cultivation of a rich, fully human personal life. The media deliver personalities, not persons, and political and religious professional life produces the same. We all lose.

Finally, pray for the rare individual who combines effective communication and action. Hitler was such a person _ for evil. Pray for the emergence of orator/doers who dedicate their exceptional skills for good and then throw your lot and resources in with them.

Human limitations are not a negative unless we refuse to pool our talents collaboratively and interdependently. The doer needs the speaker, the speaker needs the doer, and we all need more than words.

(Dick Staub is the author of “The Culturally Savvy Christian” and the host of The Kindlings Muse (http://www.thekindlings.com). His blog can be read at http://www.dickstaub.com)

KRE/LF END STAUB

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