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A Chainsaw Meditation
The other day I cut down a pine tree that threatened the house. I had glanced nervously at the culprit every time forecasters predicted high winds. Finally, I brought out the chain saw and in five minutes felled what took at least 60 years to grow.
I love trees and whenever I cut one down I feel a mixture of sadness and elation. Sadness at seeing the life of one of these forest giants cut off so quickly. But men and boys love their toys, so every time I work with a chainsaw, I also feel a little frisson of excitement run up and down my spine. To think that I wield such power!
James 3:1-12
But the almost obscene speed with which I felled that tree is a parable of the ease with which we can destroy things that take years to develop. A weekend affair can destroy a marriage. One act of theft in the workplace may jeopardize a career. One dishonest entry on a tax return could sow suspicion among government auditors for decades. An abortion ends the potential of a child that might have become a Mozart or an Einstein. A denial of the historicity of one biblical record opens the door to denying the whole Bible. Much less dramatic than these examples are the words we speak.
Like a chainsaw, hurtful speech can quickly fell relationships that may have taken years to build. James compares controlling the tongue with using bits in the mouths of horses and rudders on ships to guide them aright. In chapter one he writes, "If anyone considers himself to be religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless."1 Then in chapter 3, he changes the metaphor again and takes 12 verses to highlight the incendiary nature of hurtful words.
Clearly, growing in Christ involves learning to avoid words that cut, hurt, criticize, discourage, or demoralize. Instead, Christ calls us to speak words that "encourage one another daily."
I can never restore the tree I cut down. However, I could plant a new one in its place. And fortunately through the grace of Spirit-mediated expressions of apology, forgiveness and restoration is possible between two estranged parties. Nevertheless, hurtful speech remains like a scar on the hearts of those we harm. James gives us wise advice; to keep a tight rein on our tongues.
© Eric E. Wright 2011 See www.countrywindow.ca and ericewright.wordpress.com for further inspirational thoughts.
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