My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,
James 1:19 NIV
Swift and Slow
Swift Current’s history began with Swift Current Creek, which originates at Cypress Hills and traverses 160 kilometres of prairie and empties into the South Saskatchewan River at Lake Diefenbaker. The creek was a camp for First Nations for centuries. The name of the creek comes from the Cree, who called the South Saskatchewan River Kisiskâciwan, meaning “it flows swiftly”. Fur traders found the creek on their westward treks in the 1800s and called it “rivière au Courant” or “river of the current.”
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Some of us are talkers. We think verbally and have to hear our thoughts out loud to process them. Practicing active listening doesn’t come naturally to gregarious, talkative people. The result is that, unbridled, what is said can get someone in trouble. The challenge is that the follower of Christ is never to throw fuel on the fire. Jesus said that peacemakers are blessed because we will be called the children of God. So, the apostle James, known as the epistle author who has called us to put our faith into action, gives us some practical and Important advice. In James 1:19, he writes: “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,” Christians are always called to use words carefully. Even in an emotional situation, we are called to weigh our words carefully before using them, asking the Lord to calm us down so we can respond without anger. This isn’t easy, but the Holy Spirit will always help us to respond like Jesus. How many regrets and severed relationships would be avoided if we learned to be quick to listen and slow to speak.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley