By Peter Kennedy
"Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the air may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say." - Ecclesiastes 10:20
In January 2012, two British tourists were barred from entering America after joking on Twitter that they were going to “destroy America”.
Leigh Van Bryan, 26, was handcuffed and kept under armed guard in a cell with Mexican drug dealers for 12 hours after landing in Los Angeles with pal Emily Bunting.
The Department of Homeland Security flagged him as a potential threat when he posted an excited tweet to his pals about his forthcoming trip to Hollywood that read: “Free this week, for quick gossip/prep before I go and destroy America?”
Homeland Security failed to understand British slang where “destroy” meant “party hard”.
Van Bryan and his traveling companion were detained by Homeland Security overnight, during which they were interrogated about their plans. Though they tried to explain that "to destroy" is to "party quite hard in," the pair was put on a plane to Paris the next morning. Officials claim that in secondary interviews, details “revealed both individuals were inadmissible to the United States.”
Once spoken or written, our words can take flight and land where we do not intend them. Today in prayer, ask Jesus to direct your speech so it will bring Him glory.
"Open your ears, for which of you will stop the vent of hearing when loud Rumor speaks?" - William Shakespeare
God's Word: "A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends." - Proverbs 16:28
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