With a good eye

When the meraglim spoke out about the land of Israel - they were severely punished. One aspect of their heinous crime - which in turn led them to such a harsh punishment - was that they should have taken example from Miriam.
At the end of last week's parsha we see Miriam struck with tzaraas because of a disparaging comment she made about Moshe Rabbeinu.
In both instances one is compelled to wonder - why is lashon hara such a horrible sin ? Don't get me wrong, I'm not advocating slander. No one thinks that libelous comments and catty snipes are a proper model for a Torah life - but it seems as though they are actually a fundamentally opposing viewpoint - how ?
We are well aware that we were created in G-d's image. Obviously, that doesn't mean physical image - G-d has no arms or nose hairs. Rather, we were created with the inherent ability to also create. As Rabbi Jeff Greenberg used to put it, we can be 'mini g-ds'. Our ability to create is not just a physical issue - far from it. If it were, then every animal who can reproduce would also be considered 'in G-d's image'. No, our ability to create lies in the world of the non-physical. Specifically, ideas. When we postulate a thesis or just dream up a recipe we are actually creating it, and thus echoing the Creator of all.
And when we speak ill of someone or something, we are misusing our gift in the most heinous way. We are creating negativity and bad feelings were there were none before. I would almost go so far as to say - that we are corrupting G-d's world and using his very image to do so.
When seen that way - lashon hara is certainly an evil like no other - may we be zocheh to guard our speech, preserve our divine image and bring mashiach b'mhaira b'yameinu, amen!