Taming Life

[495 words] James 3 concerning the tongue is fascinating. In a series of word-pictures, James describes the control of large ships and the control of powerful horses by tiny, man-made devices, before stating that all the animals of the land and sea have been “tamed” by man. Then in a surprising twist, James adds, “but no man can tame the tongue.” (v.8). The Greek word that James used to describe that process of taming is also used in Mark 5:4, in the story of the man who lived among the tombs but had been impossible to control by others. Life is a lot like that man. We can chain it, guard it, plan it, insure it, and cry over it, but we cannot tame life. It will always be sudden, unexpected and challenging. Even in the life of Jesus, it’s obvious that he didn’t have complete control over the events…