What’s the hardest thing for a public person to do?
Keep your mouth shut.
If you don’t believe me, try to avoid saying all those cute little comments that come up in your head during a day.
It’s a problem I’ve had that goes all the way back to the summer of my Junior year in high School. Sitting in my biology class, learning about Mendel’s theory of genetic trait distribution I first realized some spontaneous utterance, spewing forth, eliciting a burst of laughter from the class. As the teacher detailed on the blackboard (yes, it really was black, and he really did use chalk) “Big E- Big E”, “Big E- little e”, “little e - Big E”, “little e - little e” I erupted with a squeaky mousey voice “ee.”
Yes, there I found myself the instant class clown without planning. Fortunately for me, I hadn’t built up a reputation for being disruptive, and demonstrated immediate remorseful embarrassment, avoiding any disciplinary action.
The "problem" goes way back for me but fortunately over the years I've grown in spiritual maturity. I've learned to exercise more control, thanks be the God. But I'm not perfect... like most of you, I'm still going on toward perfection.
Sometimes, thoughts strike us as amusing and we humans fail to sensor ourselves. That failure sometimes yields undesirable consequences. Inappropriately timed humor in a congregational setting can have the unintended effect of arousing anxiety among members.
Not too long ago, I found myself making quite harmlessly intended comment that set off a stir of concern in our congregation. Looking back I want to place blame elsewhere. But truthfully, it was an unplanned joking comment that just didn’t need to be said.
In the end, the anxiety that my comment sparked had some solid basis, but that story will be told later. That week, I reaffirmed an old lesson, just because you think it’s "only a joke," the thought you are thinking may be better left unsaid.
Public Person Rule: Practice restraint, “pray before you say.”
That must be why the Apostle Paul identified self-control as a fruit of the Spirit.
Sometimes it’s best to just keep your mouth shut.
“The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.”
Proverbs 15:14
“Words from a wise man's mouth are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips.
At the beginning his words are folly; at the end they are wicked madness--
and the fool multiplies words. No one knows what is coming-- who can tell him what will happen after him?” Ecclesiastes 10:12- 14
