A cool wind is blowing through the trees this morning. With the possible exception of ocean waves, I think that’s my favorite sound in all of nature—wind in the trees, be they pines or palms. Dave and I have been known to hurry onto the nearest porch when a storm’s coming so we can watch it roll in and listen to the sound of the wind (unless it takes a scary turn and sends us scurrying back inside to watch the Weather Channel). One summer we planted palms and banana plants in our back yard to make it sound like the beach when the wind blew.
Today, with the Story Shack's front door propped open to the rustling leaves outside, I looked up “wind” on BibleGateway and of course found lots of mentions. There’s plenty of seafaring in the Bible, particularly in the New Testament. I haven't studied James carefully, but this passage struck me:
Look also at ships:
although they are so large
and are driven by fierce winds,
they are turned by a very small rudder
wherever the pilot desires.
Even so the tongue is a little member
and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.
The tongue is so set among our members
that it defiles the whole body,
and sets on fire the course of nature;
and it is set on fire by hell.
For every kind of beast and bird,
of reptile and creature of the sea,
is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
But no man can tame the tongue.
It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
With it we bless our God and Father,
and with it we curse men,
who have been made in the similitude of God.
Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.
My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
James 3: 4-10
Oh dear. James saw us coming. How true is that? How much trouble in the world comes from that one tiny part of the human body? It can bring blessings or curses. And it is indeed difficult to tame. But that’s the single greatest favor we could all do for ourselves and for each other right now—try to tame our tongues. Speak blessings and not curses. Use that tiny rudder to steer our ships toward a better course.
Behold, a king will reign in righteousness,
And princes will rule with justice.
A man will be as a hiding place from the wind,
And a cover from the tempest,
As rivers of water in a dry place,
As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land.
Isaiah 32:1-3
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