"Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!"
James 3:5 KJV
In the beautiful hills, trails, and waterfalls of the Columbia Gorge were six teenagers on the Eagle Creek Trail. They were out to have a good time on Labor Day Weekend. They had some fireworks with them. Smoke bombs. Such small items. Surely they couldn't do much damage and it would be fun to light one and throw it down in the canyon to see what would happen. One of the teens filmed it with a cell phone while the others stood around and laughed as it was lighted and tossed over the edge. Smoke began to billow up and it wasn't long before hikers were trapped and the whole hillside was in flames. It continues to burn out of control as I write this on September 5, 2017.
This is an illustration of what James talks about. Like the smoke bombs those teens carelessly lit and threw into the canyon, the tongue is small. All it takes is for careless words to come across our tongues and we can start a wildfire of gossip and hurt. It can ruin friendships and family relationships. Verbal smoke bombs will usually catch fire and spread quickly.
The Columbia Gorge fire didn't have to happen. Let's let it remind us that our words can be just as damaging to others and we don't have to let that happen either.
It will take years for this area to rehabilitate and become the beauty it once was, but God can raise up beauty out of ashes and it will eventually become beautiful again. God is faithful. Find encouragement and comfort in His faithfulness today.
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