Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy
Welcome to Day 84 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.
This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom.
Learn to Shut Up (Part 2)
Thank you for joining us for our 7 day a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 84 of our Trek. Yesterday and today we are stopping by 10 clearings on our trail and studying practical applications for our lives in order to gain wisdom and incorporate the discernment needed to know when to speak and when not to. To let you in on a little secret, when it comes to talking less is more. When it is necessary to speak, what you say and how you say it are also very important.
We are recording our podcast from our studio at The Big House in Marietta, Ohio. We had a very pleasant trip driving up. The weather was nice, and the traffic was not too heavy. As I am creating the journal for this podcast, Paula is driving which allows me to take advantage of the time in the car. We will switch off at our half way point, so that I can drive part of the way. We met Paula’s sister Lois on the way up and Mom Jarvis will be spending a couple of weeks with her. Paula and I have several day trip activities planned for this next week as it is our 36th wedding anniversary week. We are looking forward to a little time away from our usual workload and routine to enjoy some focused time together.
Yesterday on our Trek, we came to an understanding of just how difficult it is to control our tongue. As mentioned in 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."  It has been over 2,000 years since this was written, and still we have not come up with an effective way to tame the tongue.
As part of our Trek, we are focusing on 10 waypoints or clearings that will at least help to minimize the potential negative impact that our tongues may have. Unless you are a ventriloquist it all boils down to the fact that we need to think before opening our mouths to speak. We will continue on to clearing #3 today, and for each of these points we need to know to say "keep your mouth shut when…"
Clearing #3 – You want to gossip.
When you want to say something negative about someone behind their back, don’t. Just don’t. There is almost never a good reason to do this. It makes you look petty, childish and mean-spirited. It might get back to the person you’re slandering. Never gossip, and if someone does something truly terrible, that will significantly harm someone or an organization, you might need to discuss it.  If you are in an appropriate position, discuss it with that person privately first . If it is unresolved then discuss it with an appropriate person to decide what course of action to take.
Clearing #4 – The details of a plan or deal are not complete.
Look to that old adage "Never count your chickens before they’re hatched," or "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."  If you’re making plans for some big activity, or making a deal of some kind, never announce it until the crucial details are worked out, or the paperwork is complete. You’ll feel embarrassed or stupid if things fall through.
Clearing #5 – You’re mad or upset with a person or situation.
When someone annoys you, don’t respond right away, as you are likely to blow up and/or say something you will regret. And, you can’t take it back. A word spoken cannot be unspoken. Even if you apologize, people will not forget. You’re weak when you’re angry. Don’t act in a moment of weakness. Even if they’re wrong and you’re right, you won’t come out of it looking good.
Clearing #6 – You have had too much to drink.
While I do not drink alcohol myself, I know that most people do. It’s really hard to keep your mouth shut when you’re drunk.