One of life’s lessons learned is there is humor found in most everything. I am coming into the realization that this humor is usually the aftermath of despondency. All to often in seeking to bring life into a dull conversation I use a ploy of humor at times to bring flavor to what I interpret to be nothing short of lacking. Figuratively a right turn on a red light, this being perfectly legal, yet not always advisable. I have hardened my heart to the inlaying consequences in hopes of immediate pacification.

   A perfect example of this would be last week. I had not seen my parents for some time. They selflessly made a one day trip down to attend a “baby shower” my Mother in law hosted for my wife (us). Upon completion of the party I was escorting them to he car, the conversation had turned to discuss character traits of my parents, that would be passed down to my children. Meaning no harm, more so folly I always being full of whit responded to how I denounce the characteristics that so envelope my mother and father. Often ones that many find humor in, others are bit of a splinter, none the less I denied them all. Further more denouncing all genetic ties to my parents. Laughter filled the air, meanwhile so did unseen static, as if you had just slid your socks across one hundred feet of wool, it was just waiting for a spot to discharge, but none knew the wiser. The following morning, I received a call on the way to church, from my mother. She was crying. The “static” now clearly evident had been discharge. Seems the hour and a half ride home for them had been filled with emotional pain. Time for them to reflect on the day, time to sit and take in what their son had professed. A Time to twist the knife as it cut threw the scar tissue of times past. Old wounds had been opened anew, our enemy had insured through my ignorance to infect them once again with lies.  It would now take the art of a Doctor to cleanse and close them once again.

   James three and six “And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” How quickly in my stupidity I forget this. Why must it take times like this to remind me of things of this nature. Though I may be of flesh, I am not to act of flesh. Everything in the natural, has ties to the spiritual, this I am most certain. To carelessly cast out words of what I see to be comical, is the equivalent launching a tactical missile with no coordinates. The thrust and beauty of flight will be indescribable, however destruction will all too soon follow, often not visible immediately to those whom launched it.

   Proverbs Twelve, verse eighteen tells me,  ”Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing”. I must heed this delectable morsel of God’s wisdom placed in tangible words for my eyes to gaze, so that my heart may receive. Though at times it is against my nature, this very nature has proved fouled time and time again. Indeed this nature has also up until this point separated me from the awareness of the intensity from which I speak. Proverbs Fifteen, verse Twenty-eight states, ”The heart of the righteous weights its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil”. I in my fouled nature, am found no where near “righteous”. However Philippians Three, verse nine tells me ”And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”. Only in this will my mind Que to what is good and upright. I, as no man can, walk in flesh, and in Spirit. I must be of flesh, walking in the Spirit. It is only by this that I will be capable of discernment. Through the covering of righteousness found in Christ Jesus, discernent will flow as a torid river to speak edification to those whom are weary. By this means alone, will the footholds be removed that I have allowed the enemy to place in the relationships God has blessed me with.  

James Three, verse two,  ”For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same [is] a perfect man, [and] able also to bridle the whole body.”