Water can be a metaphor for life or death.

Ask anyone who has gotten sick from contaminated water or tried to avoid falling out of a canoe while going down the piranha-infested Amazon River. They will tell you that water can be deadly.

But what about a person dying of thirst in the desert, or someone who goes into the hospital because they’re dehydrated? Water can bring life.

There’s a wonderful scene near the end of the movie, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Indiana passes three deadly tests to get the holy grail, fills it with water, then pours it on his father’s gunshot wound so he does not die.

It’s a beautiful analogy for the power of your words. Your words can cut people down to the bone with sarcasm and criticism. Or they can bring life through wonderful storytelling, personal experiences, or inspiring content. The choice is yours.

Question: As you use your words today, will they bring life or death?