Hold back the Tongue. Open the Ear Drums.

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
James 1:19

The sounds of the drums
singing a song strong
far and wide,
their message resonate
crescendo,
building and growing
bringing us closer
to understand.

O. Stephen Peart. 2021 © All rights reserved

Have you ever had to start a fire? Or have you been caught in one? Here’s the interesting thing, it never just blew up to be that massive flame you now see.

It was a hot summer day. I took a couple items to the backyard to burn. Then left them as the flame died out. What I didn’t realize as a child was the need to completely extinguish the ember that was there. Before long, while sitting in my room, I saw a growing fire on our dog house which was close by.

In a panic I rushed outside and grabbed the hose. However, it was the middle of the day and often the water pressure was extremely low. What to do? I was ashamed to face my dad and tell him the story. The fire was now more than what I could control and no water. I just had to pray that it did not spread to other houses or anywhere else.

In the distance I heard the fire truck as someone saw the fire and called. However, they could not find my place. By now the fire had consumed the dog house and left nothing but charcoal wood on the ground. I had some explaining to do.

And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.
James 3:6

Before you say anything, stop and listen. As the song says, it only takes a spark to get a fire going. Instead take a listen. Open the ear drums and allow them to speak.

Listen Twice, Speak Once.

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Join the Journey
I write daily for a men’s group. We are currently in a series called The Path to a Conversation. This is based on James 1:22 – But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Today’s post explores how dangerous the tongue can be and if not managed, how it can explode into a fire.

Conversation is the way for us to communicate. We share words, we choose words. We apply words and sometimes we abuse words. Above all else we live words. Every step we take is built on a word. What words are you saying? If you are that man that wants to use his words well, join us in the Path to a Conversation.