On the Joy of Words
Or why the muse needs her tongue
I love reading good writing. I love writing good words and articulate thinking. I love speaking in such a manner that I can convey clear, concise and beautiful thoughts without fear and trembling. I guess you would call me a word snob. I genuflect to those who can use eloquent speech and persuasive verbs and nouns to create a picture with words that keeps us coming back to the thoughts and pictures they create again and again. Good words invite a reader into a place and time. Great words make us want to stay there and never come out. Incredible words leave indelible pictures in our heart and mind that we can never fully escape.
I bought a book on amazon.com on a whim called Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies. It was one of the suggested books that Amazon shows you based on your buying habits. I figure a good part of my brain is on deposit with Amazon because they do a pretty darn good job suggesting books I like as of late. This is no exception. Marilyn McEntyre is a linguist and word artist extraordinaire. The entire book is a post modern critique of language and a lament for the loss of so much of the richness of language and our cultural heritage disappearing because of apathy toward the usage of language. She then goes about making the important case for Christians and why we need to step up to the challenge of preserving language and doing so by utilizing it to the full richness and variety we possibly can.
I am still working my way through the book and enjoying every sacramental statement she makes. She has profound insight into the culture of and around words and why it is not alright to just study words; we must also use them well. The book is laid out over 12 talks she gave at Princeton Theological Seminary recently and I truly hope the people who were lucky enough to be there took good notes and then inculcated them into their daily calling. Many of the best and brightest for the future of the church are coming from there.
I love the church. I love it so much in fact that I can honestly say that I believe the church, as the bride of Christ, has a bright future ahead. We may see darkness and gloom in some arenas, but God is on the move and he is not sitting idle. The church is going through some radical change and restructuring in the post modern world. In a post modern environment where so much is competing for our attention and our time we the church must be able to articulate with clarity and passion that which the church is about. If we can’t enter into the mystery that is Christ and his love and life and speak with the necessary tools to be God’s message bearing instrument we are at a disadvantage before we even begin.
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As a fellow word-lover, bravo! And I love how you (and your book) tie this to the church. It’s true, I think . . . words are so important for communication and so we have to use them well if we’re going to share anything, including Jesus!
After reading this post, I hesitate to comment due to the inherent pressure to create a meaningful response.
Nevertheless, though this muse might be better off keeping quiet, I do want to say a word or two regarding your post.
I doubt you’d ever genuflect to anything I write, but I appreciate your (and Marilyn McEntyre’s) call to “step up to the challenge of preserving language and doing so by utilizing it to the full richness and variety we possibly can.” Though my style is generally simple, I do seek to improve my ability to articulate with accuracy and beauty the truth of Christ.
As I pursue the high calling of working with words to express my faith, I realize how helpful and healthy it is to be part of HighCallingBlogs.com (where I just discovered you). The creative challenge and support I get through this blog network has urged me to experiment with my word-work. I hope the writers and readers of HCB are encouraging to you, as well; just as you have encouraged us with this post.
Thanks for the book recommendation and for urging us to do more than slop out the first phrases that flow from our post-modern-saturated minds. You’ve reminded us to dig deeper and speak truth carefully and precisely.
Ann,
Thanks for stopping In. I need to do more with High Callings as well. I enjoy poking around and seeing what the Lord is leading and hearing thoughts put out there.
Take care.
How cool that you’re reading this book! This is one Kirk bought for us a while ago. I started reading it (and enjoyed what I read) but unfortunately never finished. Isn’t that the way with so many books I read??
Like Sarah, I enjoyed reading about your reverence for words and how this ties into the church. Thanks for sharing, friend!
Sounds like an intriguing book. I love words, too, but for me they are the building blocks of stories. I love words mostly because I love stories.
I wonder how this book compares to Annie Dillard’s The Writing Life? I’d be curious to know if you had read that one.
(Ann Kroeker brought my attention to this post. Thanks Ann!)