The story is told of a colonel who issued the following statement to his executive secretary: "Tomorrow evening at approximately 2000 hours Haley's Comet will be visible in this area, an event that occurs only once every 75 years.  Have the men fall out in fatigues, and I will explain this rare phenomenon to them.  In case of rain, we will not be able to see anything, so assemble the men in the theater and I will show them films of it."

The executive secretary passed the order on to the company commander: "By order of the Colonel, tomorrow at 2000 hours, Haley's Comet will appear above the battalion area. If it rains, fall the men out in fatigues, then march to the theater where the rare phenomenon will take place, something which happens only once every 75 years."

The company commander passed the order on to the lieutenant: "By order of the Colonel in fatigues at 2000 hours tomorrow evening, the phenomenal Haley's Comet will appear in the theater. In case of rain in the battalion area, the Colonel will give another order, something which happens once every 75 years."

The lieutenant told the sergeant: "Tomorrow at 2000 hours, the Colonel in fatigues will appear in the theater with the phenomenal Haley's Comet, something that happens every 75 years.  If it rains, the Colonel will order the comet into the battalion area."

The sergeant gave the following order to the squad: "When it rains tomorrow at 2000 hours, the phenomenal 75-year-old General Haley, accompanied by the Colonel, will drive his Comet through the battalion area theater in fatigues."

Unfortunately, many rumors get started in much the same way. What begins as an innocent statement can quickly transform into an ugly lie after being passed along by several "well-meaning" people.  That's why the scriptures warn so strongly about the sin of gossip.

"Without wood, a fire will go out, and without gossip, quarreling will stop.  Just as charcoal
and wood keep a fire going, a quarrelsome
person keeps an argument going.  The words
of a gossip are like tasty bits of food; people
like to gobble them up." (Proverbs 26:20-22, NCV)

Father, please forgive me of those times when I have been so eager to "gobble up" negative information about others. May I not be so quick to listen to gossip.   Keep me from the sin of spreading gossip, even in the name of "good intentions."