Did you ever play Clue as a kid? The conclusions were always simple. After a bit, you would make the declaration with certainty Col. Mustard in
the library with the wrench. Then you opened the small brown envelope only for confirmation. In that game it was always clear and straightforward. Unlike the show CSI which
looks for ways to try and fool you each week on how the death occurred and who did it. I am a huge fan of CSI Vegas (the only true CSI, the rest are posers!).
Perhaps, its time I explained the title and why I have spent the first portion talking about murder. This is about murder, but more the verbal kind then the aforementioned. Were you ever told to “kill someone with kindness?” To kill someone with kindness is to overwhelm or harm someone with mistaken or excessive benevolence. This expression originated as kill with kindness as fond apes do their young (presumably crushing them to death in a hug) and was a proverb by the mid-1500s. You also see the phrase used in Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew as well as a Alfred Hitchcock episode. The way it always came up in my life was after someone had done something to me that was more than worthy of physical or verbal retribution. The greater wisdom was always “don’t stoop to their level; instead try killing them with kindness.” While my actions might have seemed peaceful my heart’s intent was far worse.
When it comes to verbal homicide we are all serial killers in some shape or form. We all have a way of slaying someone with our words. Some are the Colonel Mustards of the bunch. They use a verbal pipe wrench, swinging it violently, no thought, plenty of anger and emotion. Drawing a lot of attention and scrutiny to their behavior and malicious intent.
I want to point out another type of person, who could come off cleaner and nicer, but who’s actions can be just as hurtful: silent killers. We use phrases like killing with kindness to justify our premeditated indifference. We say we are taking the high road, which sounds great, yet we are really searching for a way to create distance between our victims and us. You won’t see us in many shouting matches, yelling obscenities and throwing elbows. We will use time, space, and manipulation to do what we have gotten “scary-good” at doing. We do away with our victims and usually walk away squeaky-clean. Looking calm, under control, dare I say holy? It usually turns out not being what we did to the person, but what we purposely chose not to do.
Cause of death: Immurement. Ever heard that before? Listen to this. Immurement is a form of execution where a person is walled up within a building and left to die from starvation or dehydration. Since the beginning of time you have seen this in civilizations as a form of capitol punishment or political suicide. I don’t know about you, but that would have me looking for Colonel Mustard at some point. The phrases used above are not licenses from dear old dad, in all his wisdom, to detach and disown people and any sort of conflict.
So which of these do you most resemble? Are you Colonel Mustard or a Brick Layer? Both have heart-level issues. Look at this verse:
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat; if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. 22 In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.
Proverbs 25: 21-22
This verse is used often to explain phrases like, “killing with kindness” and “taking the high road.” It speaks of how to deal with conflict. It sounds so appealing to us because, lets face it, who hasn’t wanted to dump burning coals on someone who has wronged us? There have been times were I have really connected with the character from Snatch, Bricktop. You didn't ever want to cross Bricktop.
Here's a quote, "Do you know what "nemesis" means? A righteous infliction of retribution manifested by an appropriate agent. Personified in this case by an 'orrible &*#@... me." At our heart-level we desire vengeance. There are two things that stick out to me in this scripture. 1. Moving towards the other person in service and love is always the response asked of us. 2. Doing so will help to refine our enemy’s heart, like the process used in precious metals to draw out impurities, and you will be rewarded for playing your part in the process.
could write "This is me" across the bottom to clear up the mystery surrounding its subject." Do you think Leonardo heard any of these comments as he was working on what is now considered a masterpiece? Lets consider another work of art. In 1508 Michelangelo was commissioned by Pope Julius II to paint the ceiling of the chapel. It took him four years to complete. I wonder what the working environment was for him. Were there constant critiques about the amount of skin shown by his figures? Can we have a little less nudity Mr. Simoni? After all, it is a church. 
All of these questions might have been asked, but that is not the impression you get. You get the impression that these guys were able to think freely about how they wanted to create their art, and when it was finished it was finished. More than that, when it was finished, it was perfect. No need for changes, corrections, or critiques. You were free to give them, but it would not change what was hanging on the wall. The artist was free to express his art within the boundaries of his canvas, and the world was free to spend the rest of eternity commenting on what they thought or felt about the completed work. Do you think the same license for creativity is given today? I would suspect that in certain areas the answer would be "yes." You can still go into a museum and see great works of art created by modern day Da Vinci's. Yet in most other areas, artistic works are driven by the demands of an overstimulated society in need of something that sells. So the artist is free to express, but the seller will be free to make necessary changes in order to ensure the products ability to sell. Much art is used in advertising. Advertising is paid communication through a non-personal medium (Art) in which the sponsor is identified and the message is controlled. 
Part of me wishes that we could give the creative freedom back to the artists, where the brush is once again in their hands to dream and create using their God-given talent and experiences to create something that is uniquely them. Art is a form of personal expression not something to sell to someone with a certain color tapestry. Another part of me thinks the damage has already been done. Our ability to imagine and think has been traded away for something common. The only way we see art anymore is whether or not it matches the couch. Art is still alive and well. You can see priceless works of free thinking creative art on every refrigerator in your neighborhood. Before kids are taught how to be creative, they know. It comes standard with every soul. The ability to creatively create. It is a family trait passed down to all. And while kids are young we allow them to think freely. We praise them for drawing snoopy flying on a broom when told to draw a self portrait. Somewhere along the way drawings like snoopy on a broom are no longer enough.
