TONGUE-IN-CHECK

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She's quite a superstar, a multi-tasker and doesn't even know the meaning of rest.

Come to think of it, your tongue—very small compared to the rest of you—is one tough babe. Decked with 10,000 taste buds enabling you to savor the tiniest of flavors, she too helps you mix and swallow your food, fight germs, and talk or sing—even create soulful sounds as she manipulates a trumpet or clarinet.

But even while you sleep, she has to stand guard to make sure your saliva makes its way to your throat, or else you'll drool all over your pillow or blanket.

Oh how boring life would be without our all-efficient tongue! Too efficient that it must be put in check because as hard working as she is, she could go on overdrive, turning a conversation into a talkathon.

In my book "Going Up: Making Right Choices at Work," I wrote, "Who uses more words in a day? Many researchers point to women, with word use ranging from seven thousand to fifty thousand daily. Guilty as charged! Men, it is said, use between two thousand and twenty-five thousand...

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"I wonder how many of these words are spoken to encourage, bring out a smile, trigger laughter or brighten up a sad expression? And on the other hand, how many words will malign, distress, or bruise another's spirit, whether uttered deliberately or without caring how that person would feel?

"Would an inventory of words uttered in conversations... cause me to bow in shame? 'Did I really say that?'"

Listen to what the bible says about allowing our tongue have its way (James 3:5-8):

 "...the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

"All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."

How many relationships have been broken because of slander? Neighbors cursing each other because of righteous-than-thou comments making their way round and round chika-starved tsimosos and tsismosas.

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Many young people I know deal with insecurities and low self-esteem issues because of adults or their peers constantly deriding them or pouring acid on their self-worth with words like, "Ang bobo mo kasi!" "You won't amount to anything." "You might as well not have been born."

So how can I control my tongue even if it wants to work overtime? By myself I could not.

James 3:7-8—"All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."

But by His Holy Spirit who gives wisdom, my tongue can be put in check.

Proverbs 4:23-24—"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips."

It's really in our hearts where the issues of life percolate; they spout through our tongues to spread venom on unsuspecting ears and hearts.

The tongue is likened to a tiny rudder which controls the course of a big ship. But lest we forget, a ship has a captain who directs that rudder to where the ship should be headed.

I oftentimes have a hard time managing my own life. I'd rather have Jesus be my Captain. That should be the first step to making sure my tongue doesn't get unwieldy.

Jesus has proven to be no match to life's troubled waters.