‘Loose Cannon’ definition:
an unpredictable or uncontrolled person who is likely to cause unintentionaldamage.
I loved being raised on a farm. The memories that I have are nothing but a proverbial ‘Diamond Mine’ that would make even the ‘De Beers’ diamond company salivate uncontrollably.
One particular memory I possess revolves around a device known as a ‘Bird Banger’. This contraption was approximately a meter long and was basically an elongated megaphone attached to a mechanism which would accumulate an explosive gas in a chamber, which would then be subsequently detonated by a spark, causing an explosion of sound which would scare the crap out of the birds attempting to eat our cherry crop.
Setting up this ‘Weapon of Mass Destruction’ could be a tricky endeavor. If I recall, there was a timer that could be adjusted manually which controlled the frequency of the cannon ‘going off’. By twiddling a little knob attached to the pressure chamber, the farmer could determine exactly when and how often things will go ‘Kaboom’!
The only problem with the system was the little knob had no ‘increments’ which would indicate exactly how many explosions would occur, in let’s say, 5 minutes. The only way to know for sure was to turn the knob and wait for the ‘click’ which meant the ‘Big Bang’ would occur within about 3 seconds. Hopefully, that would be enough time for you
to plug your ears, because man o man, that thing was loud! Now there was one small danger that would occasionally rear its ugly head from time to time. You could be working on setting it up and only inches from the end of the cannon, when inexplicably the damn thing would go off without warning, blowing your eardrums to bits.
I have met numerous people over the years, most being relatively mild mannered folks, who kept a tight reign on their tongues, even when annoyed or angered. I have also known a few ‘loose cannons’ in my day as well. These people seemingly had some sort of ‘chip on their shoulder’ and would fly off the handle, with virtually no warning, similar to the bird banger on the farm. I speak from experience. I once was one of them, and not very proud of the fact. Like the bird banger, my pressure would build inside me, when suddenly, something would ‘Spark’ me, and I would in turn ‘lay waste’ to everything and everyone around me. The repercussions were obvious. Damaged relationships were most notable. The fact that I usually made a major ass out of myself was also a result.
I know some Christians who’ll admit that they have a ‘Big Mouth’. They seem to think it’s kinda cute. Well, I believe God doesn’t think it’s cute. It’s a little like Gunnery Sergeant Hartman from the movie ‘Full Metal Jacket’ asking ‘Private Pile’ why he had a stupid grin on his face. For some reason or another, Private Pile just couldn’t wipe the silly smirk off his face. The bottom line is that Private Pile had little self discipline and not a lot of self control. Maybe he thought Sergeant Hartman thought he was cute. Well, he didn’t. In order to teach him a lesson, Sergeant Hartman forced Private Pile to get down on his knees and place his throat into the Sergeant’s steely grip, were he was choked to the point that he no longer had anything to grin about.
So how is it, you with the big mouth that you somehow think is funny and cute, can claim to be a Christian out of one side of that big yap of yours, but can still say out of the other side of your mouth that having a big, uncontrollable, ‘loose cannon’ of a mouth is such an adorable thing? Don’t you think you ought to be bloody ashamed of yourself instead? Maybe your mouth isn’t the problem. Maybe it’s your heart. Perhaps you need to get down on your knees and humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and wipe that smug grin off your face. Then, and only then, will he lift you up.
Luke Ch 6 vs 45
A good man (or woman) out of the good treasure of their heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man (Woman) out of the evil treasure of their heart bringeth forth that which is evil; for of the abundance of their heart their mouth speaketh.
I’m Proud of my Big Mouth
By Lucien Alexander Delean
Aka ‘Looch’
Monday November 10th, 2025