March 16, 2010

James 3

As if in answer to my comments about being good at talking the talk, this chapter redefines what that means. It could be an answer in other ways too.

The tongue leads the body. And the way he describes it as only ever barely in our control, like a wild animal we think we've tamed, is so how I've always felt about my tongue. How many times has it run away from me - how many times has it said terrible things before my brain can realize what it's about to do? And if my tongue wants to say something, it almost always wins the battle with my better judgment.

I actually often feel uncomfortable speaking something I've deliberately thought out first. I usually aim for giving my tongue a basic guideline and letting it figure it out from there. This doesn't mean I'm not in love with coming up with a beautiful phrase to deliver intentionally, but I certainly feel this warning about the tongue being a fire and an untamed beast poisoning our souls.

We've all had this experience, but what is the solution?

Another thing to worry over in this chapter is the very first words of it, "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." Goodness knows I'm not qualified to teach about religion or the Bible passages I write about. I construct them that way more often than straight personal reflections though. I suppose it's the rhetoric I picked up from books of people who really are teachers. Don't get me wrong, I hope my readers can get something out of this, but it's really not on for me to be in the teacherly role.

But as a consolation at the end of the chapter comes a clear distinction that is directly useful rather than just warning. The difference between worldly wisdom - being street smart and wise in the ways of the world, despairing and conniving he goes as far to classify it as - to "wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of hypocrisy. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace." I'm not saying that's not a tall order, but that's a gift of God, a fruit of connecting to Him and letting Him come down and take control of your life.

And that's the way to curb the tongue - change the thoughts and assumptions and humor of the mind and the soul so that the tongue cannot go running off with your worst thoughts, your worst self - or if it does, your worst self is still a bascially good person. And perhaps by strengthening the soul and mind, the tongue can be more reined in, especially if that wisdom comes with calm and love of peace and the realization that heavenly things are far more important than anything the tongue would like to dwell on in the world.

Perhaps that was wandering into teaching again, but I guess I've always said things with authority I may or may not have. You two know me well, I know you take things with that grain of salt. Whatever my (metaphorical) tongue blabbers on about, you know my heart, which longs for that kind of wisdom and, I hope, can every so often show it.

Maybe someday it'll curb the pink beast that resides behind my teeth.