Don't Shoot Off at the Mouth

Scripture Reading: James 3:1-12

              Some years ago, I thought I would give bow hunting a go. So, I went out and bought a compound bow. Then I went out into a field near our house and set up a target for practice. After shooting arrows into the target a few times a week, I became a decent archer. Well, one day while out practicing I started wondering how high an arrow would fly if I shot it into the air. Without much premeditation or consideration of the potential problems with such an act, I took an arrow from my quiver, put it on the bow, aimed it into the air at an angle, pulled back the string, and let it fly.

              As soon as the arrow sailed into the sky and began to disappear, I realized what a terrible and potentially tragic decision I had made. First of all, the arrow could come down in the road near the field. While there were rarely any vehicles on that road, it was still a dangerous possibility. Then, my neighbors' cows were standing along the fence line, right across the road and they were also potential casualties of my foolish actions.

              All I could do was stand there helplessly, praying for mercy as the arrow began its descent and came back into view. I couldn’t jump into the air and grab it, I couldn’t miraculously transform the arrow into an Airsoft arrow. I couldn’t do anything but hope the events I set in motion turned out okay. No dead cows. Not mad farmers. No embarrassed preachers. Thankfully, for me, the arrow struck harmlessly on the asphalt. The arrow was destroyed, but it was the only casualty.

              Our words can be like that arrow. While they are still in our quiver, kept within the confines of our thoughts, they can’t do a lot of damage. But once we let them fly we have a lot of control of the results. All the wishing in the world can’t bring what we say back into our mouths. All the regret in the world won’t change a thing. No wonder James said that the tongue can poison the whole body and set the world on fire.