Recently I have meditated long on the use of words, of language, of both virtual and real-world conversation, of words written, of spoken and unspoken words... and ultimately of the power within something so simple as a single word.
For my part, I have become more and more of the mind that words indeed wield great - or terrible - power. Even amongst our very innermost thoughts, words hold sway over us in ways that we have not yet amply understood. Moreover, I am daily convinced that words are... magical. Do not mistake me to mean magical in the sense of the Art of Illusion, of street-magic trickery, of Davids Copperfield or Blaine... no, I mean a Magic deeper and truer than we could possibly ever hope to imagine or dare to rightly fathom. Words are indeed power...
If you happen to believe, as I do, that the very Universe as we know it was spoken into existence, then you are beginning to understand where my mind is on these matters. Words not only are power, words convey power. They build and destroy, judge and set free, make and unmake. Words harbour love and hate, become our thoughts, form the basis of our feelings. And for the most part, we are so very careless with them. Not only do we think harshly of one another, we speak to each other harshly as well. As I observed not too long ago:
Ultimately, every generation generation is at fault. Taking from our Fathers and their Fathers, we make our mark on the world... however dark and wrong that mark may be becomes beside the point. And as long as we can "live a better life than they had", then we can truly live. Never mind that maybe our Fathers and their Fathers did things a certain way for a certain reason. But... that is a blog for another day, methinks.
Tearing people down is commonplace, to be sure. Look around you. Everywhere we turn, folk are at each other throats and out for blood. The news media, the internet, the books we read, the entertainment choices we make, our social and political discourse... all paint us ugly pictures of ourselves. We need to paint something else. Why is it that we can't ever seem to voice our opinions - on whatever topic of discussion - without resorting to the coarsest of language? Does hurling vulgarities prove us edgy? Culturally relevant? Do we honestly believe that the more hurtful and insulting our obscenities the more people will listen? Are we really that unintelligent? The English language is arguably the most expressive language in all the world. We have more ways of conveying our thoughts and feelings than most any other peoples alive at any point in human history! And yet we can't frame our passions into words without a constant proliferation of profanities? How absolutely sad. Why continue to use the same few, tired old words for virtually everything? I can tell you why. It's because it's easy. But until we each come to the point of seeing this as an insulting assault upon our God-given intellect, things will ever stay the same... or continue to get much worse, if that's even possible. Hopefully it isn't too late already, as "text-speak" seems to be the direction in which our beautiful language is headed. This - in particular - makes me very, very disconsolate.
And so it seems we have utterly forgotten Courtesy as well. Know that I am not speaking of courtesy that is a sort of placating lie, a contemptible ostentation... but Courtesy that shows a deep love of fellow man, an act of supreme devotion, of an uncalculated genuineness. True Courtesy defies logic. And... O, the words it brings to mind! If we were to exert more effort into speaking to all those we encounter with loving and respectful words, just think of the impact... not just on ourselves but on the receiver... and by extension the world. It must start within us, though. To act as, no... to actually be a Lady or a Gentleman does not depend upon the company that we keep. Truly it should only be an outward expression of an inward reality... at work even if no one were around. Looking upon those that we encounter with love, to build them up... this takes care and thought and is sometimes seemingly impossible. Some will utterly reject your words, your deeds, your love, your respect, your intent... do it anyway. Love unconditionally. I believe it is what we are all truly called to.
With our words to and towards each other we ultimately have a choice set before us; to bless or to curse. Will we choose to bless and thus build up and repair? Or will we choose to curse and therefore tear down and destroy? Each one of us can chart the course of our own mind, our own tongue... why not choose to see folk in a quite different light and speak to them in such a way as to elevate them. After all, if we truly are only "a little lower than the Angels" then we would do well to not crush our kin down "lower than the dust", right?
What honour has been lost can be reclaimed, if we so choose. I will endeavour toward this end, this... beginning. Who will stand with me? What say you?
Be blessed,
Lamar
"Respect and Courtesy must seem like only ancient notions to this present - younger - generation. Wallowing in selfishness and entitlement, they miss the very lessons that should be learnt. And so, Insolence and Vulgarity perpetuate and the downward spiral continues to continue. May God forgive us the Legacy that we have wrought. Poor teachers we have been, indeed..."
Ultimately, every generation generation is at fault. Taking from our Fathers and their Fathers, we make our mark on the world... however dark and wrong that mark may be becomes beside the point. And as long as we can "live a better life than they had", then we can truly live. Never mind that maybe our Fathers and their Fathers did things a certain way for a certain reason. But... that is a blog for another day, methinks.
Tearing people down is commonplace, to be sure. Look around you. Everywhere we turn, folk are at each other throats and out for blood. The news media, the internet, the books we read, the entertainment choices we make, our social and political discourse... all paint us ugly pictures of ourselves. We need to paint something else. Why is it that we can't ever seem to voice our opinions - on whatever topic of discussion - without resorting to the coarsest of language? Does hurling vulgarities prove us edgy? Culturally relevant? Do we honestly believe that the more hurtful and insulting our obscenities the more people will listen? Are we really that unintelligent? The English language is arguably the most expressive language in all the world. We have more ways of conveying our thoughts and feelings than most any other peoples alive at any point in human history! And yet we can't frame our passions into words without a constant proliferation of profanities? How absolutely sad. Why continue to use the same few, tired old words for virtually everything? I can tell you why. It's because it's easy. But until we each come to the point of seeing this as an insulting assault upon our God-given intellect, things will ever stay the same... or continue to get much worse, if that's even possible. Hopefully it isn't too late already, as "text-speak" seems to be the direction in which our beautiful language is headed. This - in particular - makes me very, very disconsolate.
And so it seems we have utterly forgotten Courtesy as well. Know that I am not speaking of courtesy that is a sort of placating lie, a contemptible ostentation... but Courtesy that shows a deep love of fellow man, an act of supreme devotion, of an uncalculated genuineness. True Courtesy defies logic. And... O, the words it brings to mind! If we were to exert more effort into speaking to all those we encounter with loving and respectful words, just think of the impact... not just on ourselves but on the receiver... and by extension the world. It must start within us, though. To act as, no... to actually be a Lady or a Gentleman does not depend upon the company that we keep. Truly it should only be an outward expression of an inward reality... at work even if no one were around. Looking upon those that we encounter with love, to build them up... this takes care and thought and is sometimes seemingly impossible. Some will utterly reject your words, your deeds, your love, your respect, your intent... do it anyway. Love unconditionally. I believe it is what we are all truly called to.
With our words to and towards each other we ultimately have a choice set before us; to bless or to curse. Will we choose to bless and thus build up and repair? Or will we choose to curse and therefore tear down and destroy? Each one of us can chart the course of our own mind, our own tongue... why not choose to see folk in a quite different light and speak to them in such a way as to elevate them. After all, if we truly are only "a little lower than the Angels" then we would do well to not crush our kin down "lower than the dust", right?
What honour has been lost can be reclaimed, if we so choose. I will endeavour toward this end, this... beginning. Who will stand with me? What say you?
Be blessed,
Lamar
I agree with you Lamar that the elegance of the English language and the attitudes of the people who speak it have given way to an easy/instant-gratification society that now hinges on sexual related things as its motivation of most all communication.
ReplyDelete"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
-Dustin R.
Well said, my friend! Eloquent and articulate you are as well as absolutely right on every count! I'm so glad you're writing again, I've missed reading your musings.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Just beautiful. Well said...amein and amein, my friend. I, myself, have written much on the very things of which you speak; in fact, you are singing my song, I believe!
ReplyDeleteI was just smiling and nodding my head. What's more, I couldn't have said it better myself.
Standing with you, here.