To say communication is important is an obvious understatement. It is the process in which we interact with our world around and especially with the relationships and people around us. From our boss and co-workers, to the cashier at the store, to our family relationships, and even with strangers.
Maybe the greatest example of just how impactful the ability, or rather the inability, to communicate is found in the Biblical story of the Tower of Babel. You probably remember at least the main tenants of the story but look at this portion of the story from scripture to refresh your memory:
But the Lord came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built. 6 And the Lord said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them. 7 Come, let Us go down and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.” 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city. 9 Therefore its name is called [c]Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth. - Genesis 11:5-9 NKJV
God wanted to scatter these people and force them to separate, what tool did He use? He simply confused their languages. They could no longer communicate. The result is they could not function successfully as a society and ventured out to create new communities. There is many spiritual lessons here about sin, rebellion, and pride but the story emphasizes just how vital the ability to communicate is. Without the ability to effectively communicate they could not remain in the same location they were forced to separate.
This underlying truth is a reality no matter the form of communication or the relationship. If you cannot properly communicate within a given relationship, it can lead to division and separation. Communication truly weaves our lives together. This means to draw closer, or to lessen division requires better communication. It may require other means or actions pending the circumstance, but it will be highly improbably to make a better relationship without good communication between the people.
Take time to listen well, to consider and think before you speak, and to remember words do matter, but so does your unspoken communication.