It was a snippet. Only one derogatory comment. And it was not the whole truth. It was like a stone pushed down a steep hill. Moving slowly, gaining speed as it traveled downward. It bounced off a giant rock, jumping into the air and skipping the other little stones. But now, the speedy boulder increased in velocity. There was no stopping it.
That is how gossip moves. Leisurely at first, then gaining momentum. It’s rolling over whoever is in its way. A careful observer will point out the path of destruction. The havoc becomes wider in influence, forcing hearers into choosing sides.
Organizations are being destroyed or handicapped by the mischievous. Leaving only a skeleton of a once-thriving body. The originator of the derogatory comment has since disappeared. Others have sought greener pastures, regardless of their position in the matter. What was once a booming organization with excitement is now only a handful of innocents. They are now responsible for holding the organization together, at least what remains.
In another scenario, the troublemaker remains, and many others leave. One sad thing about this is the organization does not regain its previous posture. The momentum robber never sees the source of the decline. They justify themselves by stating, “we are smaller, but we are better.”
The power of God builds upon the purity of heart, not the outward appearance. God loves purity. He hates gossip. It was just a snippet, but it started rolling. It didn’t stop. Only the innocent suffer and remain.
