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Still, the intent to act in Love, to speak in the Spirit, postures us to more likely do so. Of import, here, also, is not to speak in Love, not to speak in the Spirit, not to speak at all, is often wise speech, presence and silence speaking what we need not put into words.
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A challenge is that moment between feeling and speaking. We need to engage intentional practice that leads to being able to be in that gap of non-doing, non-action, so, non-speech. Yet, speaking will happen in the head, even if not the mouth. To be-with this inner thought without putting it onto the tongue and pushing it out the mouth is needful for us to be in harmony with others.
And what do these feelings mirror of what is happening inside us each, and the communion? The Galatians passage proceeds with a collection of traits adverse to peace, including "jealousy," "fits of rage," "selfish ambition," "factions," and "envy" (Galatians 5.20-21, NIV). Common human desires can bring harm to any community, any family, any relationship, as the associated feeling is expressed in speech, and this is as true in religious or spiritual settings as others. I have no evidence to claim churches, as example, are any more likely to keep guard over the mouth as the regulars at the local bar or the fans at the local sporting match. At the local bar the speech may be called "dirty," but the church talk, though less "dirty," may be as much harmful and more unloving, as much a cursing as any cursing. Vulgar may appear innocent, for it includes no dirty, but it is equally vulgar when it is harmful. A curse may be clothed in god-talk or devil-talk, cursing is cursing. Thankfully, blessing is blessing, and can occur as well outside a worship gathering as inside one.
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One trap we see in awareness is the notion that we are acting cowardly not to speak up, so we need to say something to be responsible. This arises from a culture that places activism as priority and speech as integral to activism, apart from the wisdom of Quiet. Not-doing and not-saying is active, also. And one who holds custody at the gate of speech may find that remaining silent may take more courage often than speaking up.
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Indeed, one may be chosen in Spirit, through natural grace and divine Guidance, to hold the silence for others who are gifted to speak. These wise, holy, and quiet souls remain largely unnoticed, and that is their ministry for the larger communion. They remain quiet and simply present, not calling attention their way. ~ Quietness is Its own attraction, and a beautiful Quietness as well. ~ These beings hold the Quiet within, this being-Prayer for those who are gifted to a more apparently active engagement for others. To act, in Spirit, and not to act, in Spirit, share a like role and gracefulness for the common welfare. Both are expressions of the Life flowing equally among all, yet yielding diverse inspirations for equal edification, as Grace does not disperse Itself unequally but alike to everyone gathered in and for Love.
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Some have referred to the custody of the mouth as a spiritual practice. This means consciously keeping watch over what we say, standing guard over the tongue ~ and, now, we can include in this custody writing, as writing is a voice as much as something said audibly. How often do our mouths speak before our hearts have a chance to guide us rightly? How often have we said or written something, wishing we had not done so? or wishing we had written more briefly? or written differently, more wisely? So, no one can keep custody over the mouth for us, no one else can stand guard over the writing hand, only we ourselves, and this requires awareness.
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