Someone once told me that the two most powerful words in the English language are “yes” and “no.”  Perhaps they’re just as powerful in other languages, too. But the simplicity of this aphorism teased my psyche and agitated my spirit for several weeks. Surely there were more cogent and efficacious words we could present as symbols of linguistic pride. As early as 1903, someone suggested that the phrase Cellar Door represented the most phonaesthetic phrase in the English language. The sanctioned beauty of this phrase is often associated with romantic preconceptions rather than its branding potential. Though I wouldn’t be the first, if I ever opened a retail business, I’d call it “The Cellar Door.” But I have no idea what I’d sell.

Though some believe Cellar Door is an odd choice for the most euphonic sound combination, few would dispute the power of the word money in today’s culture. Money fuels our imagination, energizes our economy and grips our soul, not all to our benefit of course. But when you consider the range of possibilities when one person offers a “yes” to another, you may begin to sense the power of affirmation. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus directed his listeners to let a “yes” be “yes,” and a “no” be “no” (Matthew 5:37). This imperative is preceded by a prohibition against swearing; not cursing, but offering an emphatic guarantee that our word or promise is sound. In this passage, the objective of Jesus’ instruction is clearly character-driven.

Even our everyday conversation suffers under the burden of evasive tactics. “Let me check my calendar,” we might say. You’ve heard friends or family members counter with “I’ll think about it,” or perhaps, “I’ll get back with you on that,” or the dreaded, pious-sounding “Let me pray about it.” We slip away from the simplicity of a “yes” or a “no,” thinking we’ve dodged another commitment or prevailed against an uncomfortable possibility.

Consider the gift of being able to say “yes” to your child. Life naturally provides conditions which require us to say “no” to our children. What parent would say “yes” to playing in traffic, swimming in a strong undertow, underage drinking, or academic neglect? Watch your child’s face the next time you say “yes” to their request (assuming you can). Our reluctance to offer a simple yes or no emanates from the tangled obstructions that have seized our hearts. Our evasive excuses offer testimony to the fear that entangles us. We fear losing our status as much as we fear losing control and freedom. To some of us, saying “yes” is tantamount to relinquishing control. So we tap dance around the question and fail to offer direct and simple replies. But this is the moment we become entrapped by our own scheme.

Proverbs 4:23-25 reads, “Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.” An uncluttered heart fosters simplicity and transparency. In this condition, I can offer a gracious and straightforward “yes” to my family, my friends, and most importantly, to God. How refreshing and liberating. Speaking of refreshments, my son just asked me for another cookie. I can’t wait to see his face when I say YES!