James 1:19 tells us to be “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” This is something I like to call, the “Self-Control Dance.” We’ve been talking all about self-control in Route 356 lately, and have been committing this verse to memory. Whenever I read these words about being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, it reminds me of a waltz. If you’ve ever taken a ballroom dance class or been a casual observer of Dancing With the Stars, you know that the rhythmic steps of a waltz are quick, quick, slow. For centuries, people learning to waltz and attempting to not step on their partners toes have muttered, ‘quick, quick, slow’ under their breath as the music swells around them.

This is why I’ve created the self-control dance. It’s a dance that’s played out every moment of the day, with every single interaction I have. In some places, the dance comes naturally. In many other places, I am muttering the steps underneath my breath, reminding myself of God’s Word and the need to do what He says. One of those places for me is in the car, driving in traffic: quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger. In the car I have trouble remembering the last two steps especially. Some of my friends laugh at the constant diatribe I keep with other drivers when clearly, those drivers cannot hear me. I tell Mr. Buick to hurry up and turn already, Ms. SUV to slow down and let me over into the next lane, and Mr. F150 to get off my tailgate, would ya, buddy? This is not slow to speak. I’m speaking before I’m even thinking about what’s coming out my mouth.

This is not slow to anger. The whole reason I’m speaking is because I’m angry; people are in my way (which is not at all a good reason to be angry). In fact this is not even quick to listen. The Bible tells us to “take every thought captive,” (2 Corinthians 10:5) and also that “out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34). So, if I am to be quick to listen (to God’s Word), which tells me to take every thought captive, and that out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks, then I am not being a very good listener when I let insults stream out of my mouth while driving my car, am I? Hmm, maybe I should tape the words “quick, slow, slow” to the dashboard of my car as a constant reminder.

I have many other areas in my life where the self-control dance of James 1:19 needs to take over as well. What are some of yours? Where in your life are you not being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger?