Words

"Don't use words too big for the subject. Don't say "infinitely" when you mean "very"; otherwise you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite."
C. S. Lewis 


I recently got into a conversation about current slang. My friend and I were discussing the fact that words like "awesome" and "epic" are now used for every day things and have completely lost their original meanings. I, honestly, am just as guilty of using them this way, but that conversation, along with Lewis' quote got me thinking.

If I call my friends "awesome" and "amazing" or even "wonderful", how do I describe God? 


If getting an F on a paper is an "epic failure" how would I talk about losing a war?


Do we still have words for these things?


There is a sense in which this holds true for profanity as well. I rarely (almost never) resort to swearing, but I am not particularly bothered by its use by others. (Except that I consider the names "Jesus", "Christ" and "God" to be sacred so hearing them used as cuss words is seriously offensive to me.) I do wonder, though, what people who lace all their conversations with profanity say when they are truly frustrated or angry or need to shock people into action. Also, on the (very) rare occasions when I use profanity it provides an emotional release ..... would it do the same for someone who  uses it every other word? I wonder.


I know I am not being very original here, but I think these ideas have validity. Just my humble opinion really. Would love to hear what others think.


Have a good day!

Jordan's Strange Creche

On this first day of the Christian year, I am starting a blog. I want to see where this will take me...
    
            Our tradition for the first day of Advent is to set up our creche, which will serve as the centerpiece of our Advent devotionals. Since our child was old enough to handle the pieces, we have let him set up the scene by himself. The first year, when he was maybe four, he put Mary in the center with all the other people and animals gathered around her. The manger was off in a corner of the stable. We added baby Jesus on Christmas Eve and he presumably napped while his Mama entertained shepherds, angels and cows. We thought this was very funny and took many pictures. Over the years, the boy has settled into much more tradtional depictions of the Nativity. Well, until this year.
           This afternoon, my son decided to set up the most creative manger scene ever. He may have succeeded. In this version, Mary is sunning herself on the roof of the stable with a ball at her feet. A horse is climbing the ladder to the hayloft. A cow is lying on its back. Angels are lying down, one balanced on a wing. And the manger awaiting Jesus is half in and half out of the stable. I can honestly say it is different from any creche I have ever seen.

It does occur to me to wonder what Jesus actually thinks of this.....funny? irreverent? I don't know. What do you think?. For now, I am laughing and our family tradition stands.

Happy New Year, friends!!