Liz: What does Impeccable mean, exactly?

Since we've started this blog I've had several people ask me what exactly it means to be impeccable with your word.  I find myself asking this question myself throughout the day.  Does it mean always telling the truth?  Always being 'nice'?  Are swear words completely un-impeccable?   This weekend a friend suggested we devote a little bit of time considering this question. 

It is helpful to go back to Ruiz's own words on the First Agreement, which is "Be Impeccable With Your Word."   Ruiz explains that the word "impeccable" means "without sin," from the root word in Latin 'pecatus.'  Ruiz defines sin as anything a person uses or says against him or herself.  He writes, "Being impeccable with your word is not using the word against yourself....When you are impeccable, you take responsibility for your actions but you do not judge or blame yourself." 

On the way back from a concert in Atlanta this weekend my friend and I were chatting about all kinds of things and having a  great time.  She is the type of friend you can be 'real' with; you can say anything. Then we got on the subject of whether we will live in our city for the rest of our lives or whether we want to move.  I started in on the ways our city disappoint me, on the school system problems, the neighborhood we live in, the shortfalls of our house.  I managed to talk myself into a serious slump and by the end of the conversation was ready to put our house on the market and move....move ANYWHERE just to get out of town!

This is an example of the power our words can hold, and how I was un-impeccable with my speech when complaining about our city.  My speech was not mean-spirited, nor was I saying anything bad about myself or another person.  But through complaining about our circumstances and speaking aloud so many negative feelings I ended up hurting myself.  It follows then, that by Ruiz's definition, my words of complaint were sinful.  When we speak ill of another person, situation, or place we ultimately sin against ourselves. 

Jesus says, "Love your neighbor as yourself."  We sometimes give credence to the neighbor part, but often continue to destroy ourselves with no remorse, and we don't even realize it!  The Gospel also declares a message of grace and forgiveness, so that I don't need to wallow in guilt for my complaining words.  As Ruiz says, we can take responsibility for our words but there is no need for judgement or blame.

Ruiz says that words are extremely powerful and can be used to create or destroy.  He uses Hitler as an example of a man who drove a nation to war and genocide on the power of his words.  With such power at our disposal we must choose our words impeccably lest we destroy others and ourselves.  We can choose this very moment to create beauty and love simply by speaking a positive word.