The Right Words

“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is really a large matter—it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.” Mark Twain

As a writer this pithy statement resonates with me! It carries the ring of authority because of the name at the end—Mark Twain, one of America’s favorite authors. Of course, even as I write “America’s” I feel the elbow of guilt nudge my conscience because that is really not the correct word. Did you know that? Until we lived in Canada I never gave it a second thought. You may know where I am going with this. Or maybe not.

The United States of America (which would be the correct word group for the above designation for the beloved homeland of Mark Twain) is only a part of the Americas. It may not be a big deal to you or me since we live in the US of A, but to our American neighbors in the rest of North America and South America … it means something! They are American too, by gum. We wouldn’t expect a Peruvian to say, if asked his homeland, he is from America. Yet that is what we, from the United States of America, do all the time and never think twice about it.

I am reminded of a humorous book or books (it was a long time ago, folks) which came out when we lived in Canada, entitled, “’Murican, huh?” and “Canajun, eh?”(or similar phonetic spellings).  ‘Murican is for what we from the States call ourselves: “American”, with “huh” our typical exclamation following, unless you’re from Minnesota where they routinely speak a dialect of Canajun. And you guessed it, Canajun is localese for Canadian. And yes, we did speak Canajun while living in Canaja, uh, Canada. And I’ll tell you, I still think “eh?” sounds almost more intelligent than “huh?”!

We all should poke fun at ourselves now and then for the way we speak when we aren’t listening to ourselves, which I’ll bet is most of the time. I know I am guil-l-l-l-ty of that (not paying attention to what I say, that is)!

I realize someone may think I’m talking about being PC: Politically Correct. No, I’m talking about courtesy and what William Wilberforce termed “Manners”, civility. Paul called it speech with grace, seasoned with salt; speaking the truth in love. Much more foundational and real.

Getting back on the main trail after that side trip to point out one blooming indigenous example of the importance of using the right word, or at least recognizing the bad pattern of using the wrong word when we become aware that it is the wrong word—it is good to learn to use the right words when we speak and write. Even more so when we are dealing with matters of explanation, instruction and description. My ‘Murican and Canajun examples are laughable and a little off point, but are funny. I want to be sure, when I write, to say things in a way which correctly express what is in my mind and heart. Sometimes that is tricky, mostly because I don’t know enough words. Or maybe there are not words invented which say what I want to say! It is more likely, though, that I just haven’t read the dictionary enough ….

Weaving words is what my sister writers and I are learning to do, helping each other along this steep path. It is a challenge but we are taking it on!

More later.

I’ve been writing. Though you couldn’t prove it by my blog postings of the past month. The blogs that aren’t. I had the brainstorm that I’d write each week following our Bible study in the book of Hebrews on Thursday nights. Though I’ve been studying the book along with our group for the past several weeks, a few verses at a time, chunks of thought we chewed over in our discussions—which have been good—I never sat down afterwards and wrote about them. Now weeks later I will not recap to fill white space on the page. You’ll have to do your own study. But that is not a bad idea.

I’ve read the book of Hebrews many times over the years but when I began digging into the sections of verses, paying closer attention to details, I’ve had some enlightening moments. Or would that be enlightened moments? Moments of enlightenment. When you start using words, you start to pay closer attention to their meanings, not just what you think they mean. The dictionary becomes your friend.

So it is with studying the Bible. Reading and rereading a book of the Bible allows one to get the feel of the book, where it comes from and where it is going. Then, digging into the words using scholarly tools left for us by those who did the greater part of study into the original languages, brings enlightenment. Truths there all the time, not appreciated except by closer scrutiny, come to light, and make themselves known to our conscious minds. This is the value of Bible study. That is, if we act on it.

I’ve had a few of those moments in our study of Hebrews. Personal insights which I had not seen before. And, of course, powerful verses that stand out continue to resonate with me, even though I know I haven’t plumbed their depths, verses such as:

For this reason we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? (Hebrews 2: 1-3a, NASB)

“For this reason” is like “therefore”, you have to look back and find out what in the world it is there for. In this case, it is because we need to listen to Jesus with rapt attention since God has spoken through him in these last days and it wasn’t for the sake of the angels he spoke. No indeed. What Jesus said and did was for us, not them. Angels, of whom Jesus is their creator and not one of them, are “ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation”, according to the verse just before Hebrews chapter 2 opens with the quoted verses above.

We must listen attentively to what was spoken, this good news of God through Jesus Christ, for in Jesus God has spoken finally and forcibly. He has spoken once for all in a lived out drama of flesh and blood. Of death. Of power through suffering and humiliation … and resurrection. Of Exaltation and the promise of all knees bowing in acknowledgment of His living “speech”, one day yet to come.

Not yet. One day. We live in this between day, in the echo of Jesus’s life speech. His voice, his gospel, resounds and will not be stilled. Listen!

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation         [appeasement, atonement] for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. (Hebrews 2: 14-18, ESV)

In this Today of Jesus’s echoing Voice, resonating within the hearts of those who come to him in faith, we have not only salvation—the forgiveness of sins and freedom from slavery to the devil and to fear of death—we have One who understands us and can speak on our behalf before the Holy and Righteous God! Jesus Christ, our great high priest. We can trust in him. We can come to him.

Listen to what he says.

(How’s that for non-recap?)