About the Author:
Linda Whitlock is a freelance writer, adjunct college English instructor, writing coach for homeschool students, and soon-to-be columnist for her local daily newspaper. She, her husband, Mike, and their two Shih Tzus, Chloe and Canyon, live in southwest Virginia where she enjoys a beautiful mountain view from her screened-in deck. Linda's work has appeared in a number of publications including HomeLife, Mature Living, LIVE, War Cry, Byline, and Clubhouse, Jr. She and her husband are active members of Fellowship Community Church in Salem, VA.

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Musings

If We Lose Our Self-Control
by Linda Whitlock

"It's gone!" I fumed to my husband as I glared at the blank slab of masonry. "Just like Carolyn said."

On a trip to Grand Canyon National Park just a year earlier, I'd been thrilled, and a little surprised, to see plaques inscribed with Scripture mounted in several prominent locations throughout the Park. But soon after we returned from that trip, a friend told me she'd heard the plaques had been removed. Another separation of church and state complaint it seemed.

I hadn't wanted to believe it was true, so on this trip when we arrived at the Watchtower on the South Rim, I anxiously searched for the place where I knew one of the plaques had been posted. Sure enough, just as my friend had said, it was gone. The evidence was right in front of my eyes.

Furious, I snapped photos of the empty space and plotted the letters of protest I planned to write to my senators and congressman. I'd write a commentary for my local newspaper, too. Better yet, I'd write the newspaper commentary and, when it was published, I'd send copies of it to my representatives. As far as I was concerned, this whole business about the separation of church and state had gotten out of hand, and I was determined to have my say.

Back at home, I spent several weeks stewing over the best approach for my commentary. Mad as I was, I still wanted to speak the truth in love. But I also wanted to write an op-ed piece that would get people's attention. Then one morning I woke up, and the ideas began to flow. I scribbled assorted notes while I dressed, and by the time I left for work, I pretty much had the commentary written. All that remained was to come home and put it on paper.

After work, I lugged my laptop out to our screened-in deck. I was all set to hammer out my heartfelt manifesto when it occurred to me I probably could use a little more information—such as where the plaques had originally come from, who had complained about them, and exactly what complaint had triggered their removal. Imagine my amazement when a little searching on the Internet located not only all that information but also the astonishing fact that, although the plaques had been removed, they had also been put back.

No way! I knew positively at least one of those plaques hadn't been in place just a few short weeks earlier. But with a little more Internet searching, I found a telephone number for the Grand Canyon. When I called, the nice lady who answered told me she was pretty sure the plaques had been put back and offered to find out why one was missing the day we were there. Ultimately, I learned that the plaque had been removed temporarily for repairs. Chagrined at my near blunder, yet still a little skeptical, I reluctantly put my laptop away. A subsequent trip to the Grand Canyon, however, confirmed what the woman had told me. The plaque was indeed back where it belonged.

Had I failed to exercise that bit of self-restraint and not taken the time to do that extra research, I'd have pounded out my commentary and probably seen it published. The newspaper had published my commentaries in the past, so in all likelihood they would have printed this one, too. Undoubtedly, though, someone would have called me on it. I'd have been embarrassed. And that mistake would have affected not only my own credibility (not to mention my confidence) but perhaps the credibility of others writing from a biblical perspective as well.

In Galatians 5:23, self-control slides in at the tail end of Paul's list of the fruits of the Spirit. But when it comes to our writing, self-control should be one of the first fruits on display. All writers, whether Christian or not, can benefit from the exercise of self-control. But Christian writers, especially, need to resist the urge to write first and think later. Not only do we need to check our attitudes and words to make sure they edify in love, we also need to check our facts. For what will it profit us, as Christian writers, if we manage to gain an audience but lose our self-control?

© 2007 Linda Whitlock