It's 'rudderly' ridiculous! After finishing a great experience sailing in the Gulf Islands of BC with friends and family, I was musing on the power of the rudder. To imagine that one can control a 6500 kg boat with a small, thin plank is 'rudderly' ridiculous. Yet, without this device, control of the boat would be lost and so too, the great experience! Jesus' brother James uses the rudder as a metaphor for the power of the tongue. He says, " Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs." Bringing the metaphor even closer to home, is his fire metaphor: "How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness... staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell." Wow! That is strong language! But, now that he has our attention, it might be worthwhile to make observations about what our tongues are saying, and to remember who's will the tongue proclaims. Is your tongue obeying your every thought? Is it out of control, leading to shipwreck? Is it burning those around you? James reminds us that "with it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so." Let's take hold of the rudder, avoid the shipwreck of curses, and challenge one another to only sail on the waters of blessing. May God bless you! (Scripture quoted: James 3:4-10)