January 21, 2026

In my life, I have noticed that a day never passes without a nugget of wisdom appearing out of the dross of the mundane. Some of the more memorable nuggets are unburied not from any intentional mining of my own; they simply arise and are offered to me as I go about my day.

One such nugget was shared in the form of a Congolese proverb in Sunday School this past Sunday. The class was talking about self-control when Yeno Matuka offered the following words, “Before you speak, turn your tongue around seven times.” Imagine all the tongue-spinning and tongue-twirling which would come out of Washington if those in power followed this proverb!

And then, rightfully of course, my vision turns a little closer to home, seeing myself and listening to my own tongue usage. I confess I am rarely tongue-tied. I would like to think, though, that the extra breath I try to take before speaking is the equivalent of turning my tongue seven times. Now, as for spinning my thoughts seven times…

Thanks be to God for the wisdom of our elders!

Rev. Eric