”Words, words, words, I’m so sick of words,” sings Eliza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady.” Eliza would have hated the conference Wil and I participated in this week.

We have been in Puebla, Mexico, at LittWorld 2024, where 200 Christian creatives from 40 countries have gathered to celebrate words and creativity. In some ways, this conference is shop talk for writers, editors, designers and publishers, but the conference theme gets to the heart of this triennial gathering: publishing for lasting impact.

There has been a lot of quoting Isaiah 52:7, and for good reason, especially since the word “publishing” which is music to all our ears, is repeated twice in the verse—those who publish peace and those who publish salvation. This week I also heard other words, such as “humility “ and “servant” and “encourage” that give an upward turn to what my global family members communicate here, and then there where they live in Mexico City, Peru, Spain, the UK, Kenya, Nigeria, Ukraine, South Korea. . . .The list goes on.

Words of peace and salvation and humility also give an upward turn to ordinary conversations, and when paired with other words such as gentleness, kindness, patience, we no longer need to get the last word in to win the argument or to prove a point. These Spirit-driven words are ones for which we should never tire. And we should strive to find them growing in our hearts, rolling off our tongues and blessing others.

I don’t blame Eliza Doolittle for being sick of words that are hurtful or selfish or full of empty promises. So, for the Eliza’s of the world and for ourselves, let our words speak healing and reconciliation into our relationships. Let our words encourage and build each other up, and may every conversation turn upward to the Word who dwelt among us, full of grace and truth.