Blessings and Curses

Have you ever gotten yourself in trouble simply by talking?

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and brackish water? Can a fig tree, my brothers and sisters, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh. - James 3:1-12

In today's reading,James warns us about our tongues.  They can get us in trouble.

He reminds us that of all God's creatures, man is the most likely to wage war with the tongue.  We can use it for good or evil.  It is our choice.

When I was young, I would get into emotional arguments with my sister.  What would begin as a minor disagreement, would easily escalate to shouting and screaming.

I cannot remember now what would set off these battles, and I'd be hard pressed to tell you the last time I got angry enough at anyone to have such an outburst, but I know the ability is there.  

I think that is the point of this lesson.  We all have the potential to lash out in anger and the first evidence of that anger is usually the words that come out of our mouths.

I have met many people who like to provoke people into reacting with anger, as if it is a game they play.

I guess it is a power thing.  I can show I have power over you by getting to to react.

But the path we need to follow is one of support and compassion, not anger.  If the words we say can lead to battles, then words can lead to tranquility and peace.

It is all in how we choose what we say.

More to come...