Secrets suck.

Why do people trust other people with secrets? I know some doozies. And because this thing isn't exactly fully private, I can't write any of them down. I suppose that is the hardest part about having a diary without a lock on it: nothing stays hidden for long.

It almost reminds me of what we're studying in our life group - the book of James. We've been talking about the third chapter, where James refers to the tongue in the same like as trying to control a horse with a bit, a ship with a small rudder ... and, get this, he calls the tongue "a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body." Wow! Who knew that by such a small spark, we could set a forest fire? James knew. He tried to warn the people in his letter that if they weren't careful, gossip would overtake them.

Secrets ... gossip. Similar, yes? Secrets are things we don't want anyone else to know, that can often be destructive. Gossip can be too; whether it's true or not, gossip can end a friendship, ruin a marriage, destroy a church, split a family. And it's a secret that doesn't even have to be true!

Just goes to show you that the "old" saying is true: For three people to keep a secret, two of them have to be dead. Cynical? Perhaps. True ... Heh heh. Decide for yourself.

James 3.3-12

3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise 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. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.