We have two ears and one mouth for a reason. St. James was correct, for he wrote, “be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath.” It seems simple enough, watch what we hear and say, and anger nearly disappears. Pastor of Jerusalem, James, brother of the Lord, further warns us regarding this pinkish, moistened organ in our mouth, this “world of iniquity…full of deadly poison…” And it’s right under our noses. Oh my! Warnings concerning the tongue and it’s weaponry of words, are prevalent in each Testament. Solomon the Wise will pen a large portion of text to its evils, documenting the dangers of the tongue in the Book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 28. Guarded speech is thus the sign of maturity in the Holy Scriptures, it’s lack thereof revealing just the opposite, immaturity. Fascinating, religious orders around the world recognize this one basic but significant standard — the Rule of Silence. The label of the Order doesn’t seem to matter much, from Catholic to Protestant, from Jesuit to Mennonite, all recognize the need for restraint and then go about to establish the way to bridle this “little member which boasts such great things.” And that is the honoring of silence. Is that why we conclude “Silence is golden?” For it is a rare commodity indeed. If we are to practice the art of self-denial, as Jesus demonstrated, modeled, and proclaimed, cutting back on our words might be the greatest personal challenge each of us will face. Opportunities to spew our thoughts and opinions seem endless, if not outright relentless. Mystics, who would live out in the desert, spending time alone with God, still found, even in this imposed secluded environment, their tongue difficult to tame. So what about us? We live busy lives coming and going, day and night, and all the while listening to squawk radio. How can we direct our speech for better purposes? Try finding some moments of quietness throughout the day, throughout the week. Think of them as a refreshing oasis, good for the emotions, the mind, the heart, and the body. By taking time for the appropriate, we can redeem the time lost to the inappropriate. Quietude renews the responsible authority of our words before God, and thus cleanses any negativity towards ourselves or others.
