Have You Heard What I Heard? (12-11-06)

The title of this article is not a mistake. I am not misquoting the popular Christmas tune, Do You Hear What I Hear. No, I am quoting what people usually say just before they spread a rumor.

One of the things I like and dislike about living in a small town is that everyone knows everyone else’s business. On one hand, people in small town genuinely care. They take the time to get to know you and will sincerely ask about your health and happiness. On the other hand, each of us, at one time or another, are probably guilty of taking small town camaraderie a little too far. The problem begins when someone thinks they know something about someone without first verifying the facts. That is how rumors are born.

This week I had a staff member warn me that a rumor concerning them was making the rounds. It isn’t the first time I have been made aware of the Hill City Rumor Mill. This semester, the mill has churned out some real doozies.

Out of respect for the people involved, I will not go into details. I do not wish to give any credence to the current round of rumors, lest my little column start new ones. Instead, to make my point of just how drastically rumors can distort the truth, let us consider the Christmas Story, told from the point of view of two gossips:

Gossip #1: Have you heard what I heard? Those carpenters finally packed up and left town. In the middle of the night, no less!

Gossip #2: It’s about time! I heard they didn’t have any money to pay for a room in the inn, so they just went out back and took up in the barn. What nerve!

Gossip #1: Well, what do you expect? I heard that they were dealing drugs!

Gossip #2: You don’t say! That certainly explains the riff raff that went in and out of that barn. Shepherds and such - and at all hours too. Why I heard they had a wild party in the middle of the night!

Gossip #1: I heard that also. But did you hear that just last week they were visited by a gang of fancy-schmancy rich types, all dressed to the nines! Drug lords no doubt.

Gossip #2: Oh, I heard about them. They came into town all dolled up, riding high and mighty on some real fancy camels. And I heard they came with a big chest of gold and then spent every cent of it.

Gossip #1: Paying for drugs most likely. I heard they bought frankincense and myrrh. You know what they say about that myrrh…

Gossip #2: Say no more, say no more!

I used this sacred story to show just how ridiculous and damaging rumors can be. I hope I haven’t offended or shocked too much, but, of course, that is the point. Rumors are neither about the mundane nor the positive. Rumors live and breathe in the dark places of our hearts. They breed on our desire to be shocked with juicy inside information about the worst we can imagine.

At the birth of Christ, I can only imagine the rumors that spread throughout Bethlehem. What if no one bothered to find out why Mary and Joseph stayed in a manger? What if no one asked the shepherds why they went to see these strangers in the middle of the night? And what if no one checked the facts about the three wise men? Suddenly, the Magi become drug dealers, and the frankincense and myrrh go from being brought as gifts to becoming bought illicitly.

So the next time you hear a rumor about our schools, our teachers, our coaches, or our kids, please take the time to try to learn the truth. If you hear a teacher did such and such, go to the source - ask the teacher. If you hear our coaches said such and such, then talk to them face to face to find out the facts.

You can always come and talk to me. I have dispelled several rumors this year, and nothing gives me greater satisfaction than setting the record straight.

Have you heard what I heard? Let the truth set you free!