I was thinking about how James talks about taming the tongue and how important it is to master our speech.  It's so easy to consider cursing, gossip, and slander the extent of that subject, but I have just recently begun to wonder about the spirit of my speech, not just the words.  "The letter of the law kills, but the spirit gives life."  I don't just want to avoid false statements and vulgar words- I want to avoid harmful tones and fighting words.

I need serious work in matching the care of my tone with the care of my words.  I often have a hard time, in discussion, appearing as if I care about anything more than reassuring myself that I am correct.  And I find that I am extremely tempted to opt for stirring words such as "foolish," "ridiculous," "absolute," "never," "arrogant," "no way," "reckless," "pathetic," and other words that are almost sure to mark the end of a useful conversation.  Regardless of whether or not these words, and others like them, are truthfuly describing the situation or the parties, I wish to avoid them so that I can connect with the other party, and, hopefully, come to peace.  Afterall, blessed are the peacemakers, right?

The tongue should be used to build others up.  If that means that I need to hold back on more exactly correct descriptions, and on the affirmation of my contrastingly righteous path, as the cost to enter into another's trust- into another's life, than so be it (my contrastingly righteous path indeed... how quickly I forget how much God has had to work with me, bearing patiently.)  I believe that would better serve the greater good- the reconcilation of every man and woman to the Lord their God and every other man and woman.



God Bless the Reader
-jake